ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(75)38
Vol.1975/0016

Disclaimer
Conformément aurèglement(CEE,Euratom)n°354/83duConseildu1erfévrier1983
concernantl'ouvertureaupublicdesarchiveshistoriquesdelaCommunauté économique
européenne etdelaCommunauté européenne del'énergieatomique(JOL43du15.2.1983,
p.1),telquemodifiéparlerèglement(CE,Euratom)n°1700/2003du22septembre2003
(JOL243du27.9.2003,p.1),cedossierestouvertaupublic.Lecaséchéant,lesdocuments
classifiésprésentsdanscedossierontétédéclassifiés conformément àl'article5dudit
règlement.
Inaccordance withCouncilRegulation(EEC,Euratom)No354/83of1February1983
concerningtheopeningtothepublicofthehistoricalarchivesoftheEuropeanEconomic
Community andtheEuropeanAtomicEnergyCommunity (OJL43,15.2.1983,p.1),as
amendedbyRegulation(EC,Euratom)No1700/2003of22September2003(OJL243,
27.9.2003,p.1),thisfileisopentothepublic.Wherenecessary,classifieddocuments inthis
filehavebeendeclassified inconformitywithArticle5oftheaforementioned regulation.
InÜbereinstimmung mitderVerordnung(EWG,Euratom)Nr.354/83desRatesvom1.
Februar1983überdieFreigabederhistorischen ArchivederEuropäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft undderEuropäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI.L43vom15.2.1983,
S.1),geändertdurchdieVerordnung (EG,Euratom)Nr.1700/2003vom22.September2003
(ABI.L243vom27.9.2003,S.1),istdieseDateiderÖffentlichkeit zugänglich.Soweit
erforderlich,wurdendieVerschlusssachen indieserDateiinÜbereinstimmung mitArtikel5
dergenanntenVerordnungfreigegeben.

COMMISSION *OPTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(75)38 final
Brussels ,10February 1975
PROPOSAL FOR ACOUNCIL DIRECTIVE
ONTHECOLLECTION ,REGENERATION
AND/ORDESTRUCTION OFPOLYCLORINATED
BIPHENYLS (PCB's)
(submitted totheCouncil bytheCommission )
COM(75 )38 -final

EW/30i/74-S
PROPOSALFORACOUNCILDIRECTIVEOFTHECOLLECTION ,
REGEUERAT'IOHAED/ORDESTRUCTION OP
POLYCHLORIMT.EDBIPKENTLS(POB's)
Explanatory Menorand*om • ■
1.InGeneral
ThisproposalforadirectivecomeswithinthescopeoftheProgrammeofaction
oftheEuropeanCommunitiesontheenvironmentof22November1973^•It
constitutes oneoftheurgentmeasurestobetakeninviewofthewellknown
toxicitytolivingorganismsandthenon-degradability ofthesubstancesin
question.
TheCounciloftheO.E.C.D.adopted,atits315^meetingon13February1973,
aDecisionoftheO.E*C.D.Councilonprotectionoftheenvironment bycontrol
ofpolychlorinated biphenyis.Inthisdecision,theMemberStatesofthe
O.E.C.D.undertaketotakeeveryappropriate measuretoreducetoaminimumthe
dispersionofPCBintheenvironment ,inparticularbyrestrictingtheuseof
thesesubstancestoclosedsystemsandbymonitoringtheirtreatments.
Undertheagreementof5March1973oninformationfortheCommissionandforthe
MemberStateswithaviewtopossibleharmonization throughouttheCommunitiesof
2)urgentmeasuresconcerningtheprotectionoftheenvironment ,the'French
GovernmenthasforwardedtotheCommission apreliminarydrafton"Conditionsof
useofpolychlorinated biphenyis".
TheCommissionhasinformedtheFrenchGovernmentofitsintentiontopresentto
theCouncil,withintheperiodlaiddownbytheagreementoninformation ,a
proposalforadirectiveonthissubject.
1)O.J.■UoC112,.20December1973»
2)O.J.HpC9,15March1973.

ENV/3C1fl-'-'Z
-2-
On26August 19T4 ,"theCommission forwarded totheCouncil aproposal
foradirective ontheharmonization ofthe -laws ,regulations and
administrative provisions oftheMember States relating torestriction
ofthesale anduseofcertain dangerous substances andpreparations .
This proposal foradirective already covers theconditions ofuseofPCB«
Theaimofthepresent proposed directive istocover theconditions of
collection ,regeneration anddestruction ofPCBandthus tosupplement
thecontrol ofthese substances inorder toavoid anydispersal inthe
environment .
There arenospecif iolaws oncollection ,regeneration and/ordestruction
ofPCB inforce inthe Member States .
Inview ofthelegal situation asitexists intheMember States ,itseems
evident that theTreaty hasnotprovided thenecessary powers toobtain
theobjectives oftheTreaty inrelation tothis proposed directive .In
these circumstances itisnecessary toinvoke Article 235asthelegal
basis fortheproposed directive .
2.Comments onspécifie articles - '
Article 1
Polychlorinated biphenyls available commercially consist ofthemixture of
isomers which results from thevarious modes ofsubstitution ofchlorine
into theparent compound ,biphenyl . .They canbemixed with polychlorinated
terphenyls .
Article 2
This article states thegeneral principles forelimination ofalldispersal
ofPCB's.;
Article 3
Paragraph 1ofthis article refers tothesetting upofanappropriate collec­
tion system forrecovery ofwaste products either toberegenerated under
controlled conditions ortobedestroyed insuitable furnaces .

-3- EiW/301/74-E
Paragraph 2ofthis article covers theuses ofPCB'sinsystems designed asto
permit their recovery andauthorized bytheproposal foraCouncil Directive on
theapproximation ofthe laiis ,regulations andadministrative provisions of
Member States relating torestriction ofthesale anduseofcertain dangerous
substances andpreparations .Themain systems contemplated here aretransformers ,
large condensers ,heat-exchange systems (except inplant fortreatment of
foodstuffs forhuman consumption ,animal feedingstuff 'sandpharmaceutical and
veterinary products )andhydrolic systems used inmining machinary .
Article 4and 5
These provisions ,requiring creating bodies orentreprises tobesetupor
appointed and theobligation fortheconsumer toapply tothem ,ensure that the
treatment ofPCBwill becarried outinanappropriate manner andwith thenecessary
plant .
These provisions form thebasis forsubsequent inspections .Nothing specific is
stated regarding thenature ofthese bodies orenterprises toleave Member States
free toadapt tolocal andnational situations .
Forexample ,article 4does notpreclude themanufacturer orimporter ofPCBfrom
being appointed astheenterprise responsible forthecollection ,regeneration
and/ordestruction ofthese substances .
Participation bytheowners orholders ofPOB*s inthecosts oftreatment complies
with theprinciple known as"polluter pays ".
Article 6 •
This provision guarantees that each country will create theconditions necessary
fororganizing thevarious stages ofPCBtreatment while allowing theMember
States thewidest possible scope foraction .
3.Consultations with theEuropean Parliament andtheEconomic andSocial Committee
Theopinion oftheEuropean Parliament isrequired pursuant toArticle 235ofthe
Treaty ofRome .

TheEconomicandSocialConnrdtteeshouldalso"beconsulted.

ENV/301/74–E
PROPOSAI .FOR ACOUNCIL DIRECTIVE
OUTHECOLLECTION ,REGENERATION AND/OR
DESTRUCTION "OPPOLTCHLORTKATED "ETPEENTLS (PCB)
THE COUNCIL OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES . -
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic Community ,
andinparticular Article 235thereof ;
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ;
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEuropean Parliament ; t
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ;
Whereas PCB*s present hazards ,which arewidely recognized as "being harmful to
human health andtheenvironment ,andwhereas these substances must therefore
■becontrolled ateach stage oftheir use • ■■ ■ ■
Whereas regulations relating tocollection ,regeneration and/ordestruction of
PCB fsarenecessary inorder toattain within theframework ofthecommon market
theobjectives oftheCommunity inthefields ofimprovement ofliving conditions ,
harmonious development ofeconomic activities throughout theCommunity and
continuous andbalanced expansion ,andwhereas thenecessary powers have notbeen
provided intheTreaty .
Whereas theProgramme ofAction oftheEuropean Communities ontheEnvironment ,
approved bytheCouncil oftheEuropean Communities andtheRepresentatives ofthe
Governments oftheMember States ,meeting within theCouncil ,intheDeclaration
wastes whose treatment ,forreasons oftoxicity andnon-degrad&bility ,requires
solutions transcending thenational framework ; •"
1/OJNoC 112 ,20December 1973of22November 1973 »recognizes theneed forCommunity action with respect to

WhereastheCouncilDirectiveof ontheapproximation ofthe
laws,regulations andadministrative provisionsoftheMemberStatesrelat­
ingtorestriction ofthesaleanduseofcertaindangeroussubstancesand
preparations alreadyrestrictstheuseofthesesubstancestocertaincate­
goriesofapplications j
WhereastheCouncilDirectiveof relates,tothedisposalof
wastesingeneral:whereasitisnecessarytocreateforparticularly
dangerouswastesspecialarrangements offeringeveryguaranteethathuman
healthandtheenvironmentwillbesafeguardedagainstharmfuleffects
fromthesewastesorfromuncontrolled abandonmentordumping,andwhereas
PCBconstitutes suchacase•
Whereas,inordertoavoidasfaraspossibletherisksofdispersioninto
theenvironment ,itisdesirablethattheMemberStatestakethenecessary
measurestomakemandatorytheclearingandcollectionofwastePCB'sor
ofPCB'sinequipmentnolongerinusewherethedesignofthisequipment
permitsrecoveryofsuchPCB's]
Whereasprovisionshouldalsobemadeforthesettingupordesignation by
theMemberStatesofoneormorebodiesorundertaking^to1,beresponsible ^
forthecollection,regeneration and/ordestructionofPCB's,andwhereas
anyoneinpossessionofPCB'swhichhewishestodisposeofmustholdthem
atthedisposalofsuchbodiesorundertakings*'
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE :
2/0J (COM(74)1189)
3/OJ (COM(74)1297)

-3~
Article 1
ForthepurposesofthisDirective"PCB's"meanspolychlorinated "biphenyls
ormixturescontainingpolychlorinated hiphenylsandpolychlorinated ter­
phenyls.
Article2
TrieMemberStatesshalltakethenecessarymeasurestoprohibittheuncon­
trolleddischarge,dumpinganddepositofPCB'sandofobjectsandequipment
containing tliera.
Article3
1.TheMemberStatesshalltakethenecessarymeasurestoensurethatthe
collection,regeneration ordestructionofwastePCB's,orofPCB'scontained
inobjectsorequipmentnolongerisusetalcesplaceunderconditionswhich
precludeanyriskorharmtohumanhealthandtheenvironment .
2.TheMemberStatesshalltakethenecessarymeasurestomakecompulsory
theclearingandcollectionofwastePCB's,andofPCB'scontainedinequip­
mentnolongerinusewheresuchequipmentissodesignedastopermittheir
recovery.
Article4
ForthepurposesofArticles2and3ofthisDirective,eachMemberState
shallsetupordesignateoneormorecompetentbodiesorundertakings to
beresponsibleforthecollection,regeneration and/ordestructionof
PCB's.
1.AnyoneinpossessionofPCB'swhichhewishestodisposeofshall
holdthematthedisposalofthebodiesorundertakings referredtoin
ArticleA,

-4-
2.Heshall"bearthatportionofthetreatmentcostswhichthosebodies
orundertakings areunabletorecoupbyutilisationordisposalofthewaste
PCB's.
Article6
TheMemberStatesshalllaydownthespecialprovisionswithwhichthosein
possessionofPCB'sandthebodiesorundertakings responsibleforthe
collection,regenerationand/ordestructionofPCB'smustcomplypursuant
toArticles2and3.
Article7
EverythreeyearseachMemberStateshallcompileareportontheposition -
astoPCBtreatmentinitsterritoryandshallforwardittotheCommission.
TheCommissionshallforwardittotheotherMemberStates.
Article8
TheMemberStatessnailbringintoforcethemeasuresnecessarytocomply
withthisDireotivewithintwenty-four monthsofitsnotification andshall
forthwithinformtheCommissionthereof.
Article9
Followingnotification ofthisDireotive,theMemberStatesshallinform
theCommission,insufficienttimeforittosubmititsoomments,ofall
proposedlaws,regulationsoradministrative provisionswhichtheyintend
toadoptinthefieldcoveredbythisDirective.
Article10
ThisDireotiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.