ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(79)123
Vol.1979/0065

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(79)123 final
Brussels.19March1979
Proposalfora
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
amendingforthesecondtimetheAnnextoDirective76/769/EEConthe
approximation ofthelaws,regulations andadministrative provisions
oftheMemberStatesrelatingtorestrictions onthemarketinganduse
ofcertaindangeroussubstancesandpreparations
(submittedtotheCouncilbytheCommission)
COM(79)123final

EXPLANATORY"MEMORANDUM
I.GENERAL
1.Aschildren'snightweartreatedwithtris(2,3dibromopropyl )phosphate
fireproofing agentandimportedfromtheUnitedStatesofAmerica,where
theuseofthissubstanceshas"beenprohibitedsince8August1977»had
appearedontheFrenchmarket,theFrenchauthorities issuedon
1June1978asanemergencyprodedureanOrdersuspendingforaperiod
ofoneyearthemanufacture ,importation andmarketingofallgarments
andtextilearticlesfireproofed withthissubstance.
Forthesamereasons,the.BelgianauthoritiesissuedaRoyalDecree
on5June1978prohibitingthemarketingofgarmentsandoffabrics
intendedforgarmentmanufacturethathadbeentreatedwithtris(2,3
dibromopropyl )phosphate.TheUnitedKingdomhasalsonotifiedtheCommission
ofasimilarprohibition .
2.Theresultsoftoxicological testscarriedoutonthissubstancethrow
doubtsonitsharmlessness andmutagenicitytestshaveprovespositive.
Whatismore,studiescarriedoutbytheUSConsumerProductSatety
I
Commissionhaveprovedthatthissubstanceisabsorbedthroughtheskin
inrabbitsandcausestesticularatrophyandnephrosis.TheNational
CancerInstitutehasalsostated,afterverifyinginitialdata,thatthis
substanceiscarcinogenic inboththerateandthemouse.
3.Differingmeasurestakenunilaterally tobanproductsfireproofedwith
thissubstancecancausedistortionontheCommunitymarketandhavea
directimpactonitsfunctioning.Acommunitysolutiononharmonisation
ofnationalprovisionsisthereforeessential,especiallyasthiscase
dangeroussubstancesandpreparations areinvolved.

-2-
II.COMMENTSONTHEARTICLES
\
Article1
ThisextendsthescopeoftheAnnextoCouncilDirective76/769/EEC
relatingtorestrictions onthemarketingand.useofoertaindangerous
substancesandpreparations "byprohibitingtheuseoftrie(2,3dibromo-
propyl)phospha.betotreattextilearticles,especiallygarments,knitwear
andfabricsthatcomeintocontactwiththeskin.
Article2and3
l•.
Thesearticlesareoommontoalldirectives .
III.CONSULTATION OFTHEEUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ANT)OFT}ffiECONOMIC AND
SOCIALCOMMITTEE
PursuanttothesecondparagraphofArticle100oftheEECTreaty,these
twobodiesmustgivetheiropinion..'
(1)OJNoL262,27.9.1976,p.201

Proposal foraCouncil Directive
amending forthesecond time theAnnex toDirective 76/769/EEC
ontheapproximation ofthelaws ,regulations andadministrative
provisions oftheMember States relating torestrictions onthe
marketing anduse ofcertain dangerous substances andpreparations
THECOUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic Community ,
andinparticular Article 100thereof ,
Having regard totheproposal from theCommission ,
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEuropean Parliament ,
Having regard totheopinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ,
Whereas thorough investigations have shown that thesubstance tris
(2,3dibromopropyl )phosphate (CASNo126-72-7),which isused tofire­
proof garments ,andespecially children 'sgarments ,presents health
hazards ;whereas itsuseshould therefore berestricted ;
Whereas thesubstance referred toabove issubject toregulations insome
Member States ;whereas these regulations differ asregards theconditions
formarketing anduse ;whereas these differences represent abarrier to
trade andhave adirect impact ,ontheestablishment andfunctioning of
thecommon market ; v
Whereas itisconsequently necessary toamend theAnnex toCouncil
Directive 76/769/EEC^' ,asamended byDirective 2.
(1)OJNoL 262 ,27.9.1976 ,p.201
(2)OJNoL

4
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
Article 1
Thefollowing isadded totheAnnex toDirective 76/769/EEC :
"4.Tris (2,.3dibromopropyl )
phosphate >Shall not beused totreat textile
articles ,especially garments ,
CASNo (Chemical Abstract knitted andcrotcheted articles
with the skin ."
Article 2
1.Member States shall take themeasures necessary tocomply with this
Directive before 1January 1980 .
2.Assoon asthis Directive hasbeen notified ,Member States shall
inform theCommission ,insufficient time forittosubmit its
comments ,ofthedraft laws ,regulations oradministrative provisions
which they intend toadopt inthefield covered bythis Directive .Service Number )126-72-7 andbedlinen ,caning into contact
Article 3
This Directive isaddressed totheMember States .