29. 2. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 57/1 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on limit values and quality objectives for 
discharges of hexachlorocyclohexane, and in particular lindane 
(84/C 57/01) 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the 
European Communities No C 215 of 11 August 1983, page 3. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 2 August 1983 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic 
and Social Committee in accordance with Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 
214th plenary session held in Brussels on 25 and 26 January 1984. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 100 thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 2 August 1983 for an 
opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on 
limit values and quality objectives for discharges of 
hexaclorocyclohexane, and in particular lindane, 
Having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 
27 September 1983 instructing the Section for 
Protection of the Environment, Public Health and 
Consumer Affairs to draw up an opinion on the 
matter, 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur, Mr Zoli, Having regard to the discussions at the Section's 
79th meeting, held on 12 January 1984, 
Having regard to the discussions on 25 January 1984 
during the 214th plenary session held on 25 and 
26 January 1984, 
Whereas in its opinion on outline Directive 76/464/ 
EEC concerning pollution caused by discharges of 
certain dangerous substances into the Community's 
aquatic environment, the Committee approved the 
objectives of safeguarding the aquatic environment 
against this type of pollution(•); 
Whereas in its opinions on the draft Directives im­
plementing Directive 76/464/EEC and concerning 
respectively discharges of mercury into the aquatic 
(i) OJ NoC 108, 15.5. 1975. 
No C 57/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 2. 84 
environment by the chlor-alkali electrolysis indus­
try (!) and by sectors other than the chlor-alkali elec­
trolysis industry (2), discharges of aldrin, dieldrin 
and endrin(3) and discharges of cadmium (4), the 
Committee stressed the need for an overall approach 
to discharges of dangerous substances so that any 
changes in the environment can be closely moni­
tored, 
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
unanimously: 
1. The Committee approves the draft Directive im­
plementing Directive 76/464/EEC; this draft Direc­
tive aims to eliminate within the Community the 
risks associated with the production of hexachloro-
cyclohexane, lindane and pesticides based on these 
substances. 
The Committee recognizes that as far as lindane is 
concerned the limit values and quality objectives 
laid down in the draft Directive meet the require­
ments for protection of the Community's aquatic 
environment and therefore deserve unconditional 
support. More stringent limit values and quality 
objectives should, however, be laid down for the 
a-isomer and particularly the P-isomer of hexachlo-
(') OJ NoC 83, 2.4. 1980. 
(2) OJ No C 286, 24. 10. 1983. 
(3) OJ NoC 83,2.4. 1980. 
(4) OJ NoC 230, 10.9. 1981. 
Done at Brussels, 25 January 1984. rocyclohexane, which are non-degradable and build 
up in the food chain. 
2. The Committee welcomes the fact that the draft 
Directive, by laying down provisions to prevent any 
transfer of contamination from the aquatic environ­
ment to the atmosphere, takes into account the 
harmful effects on the atmosphere of hexachlorocy-
clohexane/lindane production. 
3. The Committee would alert the Commission to 
the risk posed by increasing imports from non-Com­
munity countries of agricultural products treated 
with hexachlorocyclohexane-based pesticides, which 
are no less serious as potential pollutants; the Com­
mittee feels that a similar risk lies in the use of 
hexachlorocyclohexane to treat wood and electric 
cables. 
The Committee therefore urges the Commission to 
take the necessary measures to guard against such 
risks, and to give priority in the relevant Community 
research programmes to the question of environ­
mental pollution by toxic substances. 
4. Finally, the draft Directive increases the number 
of dangerous substances regulated under the 1976 
outline Directive to five. The Committee recom­
mends that a number of substances of the same 
nature be covered by a single Directive, thus simpli­
fying presentation and discussions at the various 
levels. Subsequent Community legislation would re­
late solely to technical amendments to the annexes 
of this Directive. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Francis CEYRAC