WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2259/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Dangerous preparations
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EC Directive, application of EU law, approximation of laws, classification, dangerous substance, labelling, packaging, transitional period (EU)

C 76/86

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11. 3. 98

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 1997)

The  proposal  for  a  Parliament  and  Council  directive  on  classification,  packaging  and  labelling  of  dangerous
preparations, in particular Article 6 paragraph 4, specifies that a new assessment on health hazards is required in
cases where the variation of constituents exceeds the ranges specified in the table of paragraph 4. The table is
applicable in cases where the classification (assessment of health hazards) is based on the method specified in
Article 6 paragraph 1 (b). Paragraph 1 (b) defines the method for assessment of health hazards based on testing in
accordance with Annex V B (test guidelines) to Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations
and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (1).

The Commission is of the opinion that the present text of the proposal already clearly specifies that the table is
applicable only in cases where the health hazards of a preparation of a known composition have been assessed on
the basis of test results.

(1)  OJ 196, 16.8.1967.

(98/C 76/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2259/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Dangerous preparations

The  Commission  has  submitted  a  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  directive  concerning  the
approximation  of  the  laws,  regulations  and  administrative  provisions  of  the  Member  States  relating  to  the
classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (COM(96) 347 final › 96/0200 COD) (1).

Will the Commission ensure that the date of application coincides with the date of publication in the Official
Journal, with a five-year transitional period?

(1)  OJ C 283, 26.9.1996, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 1997)

Article 24 of the proposal for a Parliament and Council directive on classification, packaging and labelling of
dangerous preparations provides that the directive will enter into force on the third day following its publication
in the Official journal.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that a five year period between the date of adoption and
the date of entry into force is needed for practical reasons to allow enough time both to the authorities of the
Member  States  as  well  as  to  economic  operators  and,  in  particular  to  small  and  medium  size  enterprises,  to
implement the new requirements such as safety data sheets for non-classified preparations and new labels for
preparations  classified  as  dangerous  for  the  environment,  introduced  in  the  above-mentioned  proposal.  The
Commission’s  view  on  this  point  is  clearly  reflected  in  the  explanatory  memorandum  and  taken  into
consideration in article 23 of the present proposal according to which the implementation must take place by the
year 2003 at the latest.

(98/C 76/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2260/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Dangerous preparations

The  Commission  has  submitted  a  proposal  for  a  European  Parliament  and  Council  directive  concerning  the
approximation  of  the  laws,  regulations  and  administrative  provisions  of  the  Member  States  relating  to  the
classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations (COM(96) 347 final › 96/0200 COD) (1).