Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on detergents amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2004-02-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: environmental protection, free movement of goods, polishing and scouring preparations, public health

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 26.02.2004 
COM(2004) 138 final 

2002/0216 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT  
AND OF THE COUNCIL 

ON DETERGENTS 

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
 
2002/0216 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT  
AND OF THE COUNCIL ON DETERGENTS 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Article 251(2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty provides that the Commission is 
to  deliver  an  opinion  on  the  amendments  proposed  by  the  European  Parliament  at  second 
reading.  The  Commission  sets  out  its  opinion  below  on  the  eight  amendments  proposed  by 
Parliament.  

2. 

BACKGROUND 

Date of transmission of the proposal to the European Parliament and 
theCouncil: (document COM(2002)485 final – 2002/0216 COD): 

Date  of  the  opinion  of  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee: 

Date of the opinion of the European Parliament, first reading: 

Date of adoption of the political agreement (by qualified majority): 

Date of transmission of the amended proposal: 

Date of adoption of the common position: 

Date of the opinion of the European Parliament, second reading: 

4.9.2002

26.2.2003

10.4.2003

19.5.2003

6.6.2003

6.11.2003

14.1.2004

3. 

PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL 

The  objective  of  the  proposal  is  to  ensure  the  free  movement  of  detergents  in  the  internal 
market while at the same time providing a high level of protection to human health and the 
environment.  The  proposal  seeks  to  achieve  these  objectives  by  modernising  the  directives 
that  lay  down  rules  for  the  biodegradability  of  surfactants  used  in  detergents  and  by 
incorporating  and  expanding  labelling  rules  contained  in  Commission  recommendation 
89/542/EEC. Modernisation is provided by new biodegradability tests which will provide an 
enhanced level of protection to the aquatic compartment. In addition, the scope of the tests is 
extended  to  all  classes  of  surfactant  thereby  including  the  10%  of  surfactants  that  escape 
current  legislation.  Labelling  rules  are  extended  to  include  fragrance  ingredients  that  could 
cause allergies, and manufacturers are obliged to disclose a full list of ingredients to medical 
practitioners treating patients suffering from allergies. A Regulation is proposed to ensure that 

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the  new  rules,  and  subsequent  adaptations  of  them  to  technical  progress,  will  apply 
simultaneously  in  all  Member  States  without  the  need  for  transposition  of  lengthy  technical 
annexes into 25 separate national legislations.  

4. 

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  THE  AMENDMENTS  BY  THE  EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT 

The  Commission  can  accept  all  the  European  Parliament’s  amendments  as  they  are  in  line 
with the objectives of the proposal. 

4.1. 

Amendments accepted by the Commission 

The Commission accepts the eight amendments adopted by the European Parliament. 

4.2. 

Amendments rejected by the Commission 

None. 

5. 

CONCLUSION 

Pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal as set out 
above. 

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