CELEX: 51989PC0126
Language: en
Date: 1989-03-17
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE amending Directive 79/117/EEC prohibiting the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing certain active substances (presented by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (89) 126
Vol. 1989/0038
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                          COM(89 ) 126 final
                                          Brussels , 17 March 1989
                                  Proposai for a
                                COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
    amending Directive 79 / 117 / EEC prohibiting the placing on the market
          and use of plant protection products containing certain
                                active substances
                       (presented by the Commission )
 ---pagebreak---                           EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Ethylene oxide is a multifunctional fumigant with insecticidal ,
fungicial and bactericidal properties . Due to toxicological
concerns , its use as a plant protection product was prohibited in
1987(1 ) subject to five temporary national exceptions for use on
certain minor commodities for which no satisfactory alternative
was available . These derogations are due to expire on 31
December 1989 when the use of ethylene oxide as a plant
protection product will be totally prohibited .
At the time of the adoption of the proposal , it was appreciated
that it might not be possible to find satisfactory alternative
treatments for some or all of the derogations provided for . With
this in mind , the Commission was requested to review the
situation and to mate a proposal to postpone the expiry date if
considered necessary . The Commission having carried out this
review considers it desirable , in the absence of a generally
acceptable alternative , to provide for an extension of the
derogation for one year insofar as it conoerns herbs and spices .
In this respect , it is to be expected that the Commission 's
proposal on irradiation of 2 December 1988 ( 2 ) will be adopted
by Counoil and will thereby provide an aooeptable alternative for
the treatment of herbs and spioes .
The present proposal confirms the prohibition by 31 Deoember 1989
of the use of ethylene oxide for dried vegetables , ooooa powder
and cake , and tobaooo leaves and provides for the extension by
one year of the derogations for the treatment of dried herbs and
spices and dried herbs intended to be used as medicinal products .
(1)   OJ N° L 212 , 2.8.1986 , p. 33
(2)    COM ( 88)684 final
 ---pagebreak---                                           2
                                      Proposai for a
                                   - COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
amending Directive 79 / 117 / EEC prohibiting the placing on the
market and use of plant protection products containing certain
active substances
THE COUNCIL OF THE EÜROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economio
Community ,
Having regard to Council Directive 79 / 117 / EEC of 21 December 1978
prohibiting the placing on the market and use of plant protection
products containing certain active substances ( 1 ), as last
amended by Directive 87 / 477 / EEC ( 2 ), and in particular Article
6(3 ) thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Whereas Directive 79 / 117 / EEC provides for the contents of its
Annex to be regularly amended to take aooount of the development
of soientiflo and technical knowledge ;
Whereas ,   by  Directive     S6 / 355 / EEC ( 3 ),  amending the Annex
to Directive 79 / 117 / EEC , the marketing and use of ethylene oxide
as a plant protection product was prohibited , subject to certain
temporary national exceptions for certain minor commodities ,
where special need exists , until other methods of treatment
beoome available ;
(1)    OJ N° L 33 , 8.2.1979 , p. 36
(2)    OJ N° L 273 , 26.9.1987 , p. 40
(3)    OJ N " L 212 , 2.8.1986 , p. 33
                                                                  3
 ---pagebreak---                                     3
Whereas these exceptions will expire on 31 Decemb.         1989 ;
Whereas the Commission has reviewed the situation co. . rning
possible satisfactory alternative methods of treatment to replace
ethylene oxide ; whereas it appears from this review that , at
present , there is no such alternative method of treatment
generally available in respect of two of these exceptions ;
Whereas , accordingly , it seems necessary to postpone the expiry
date of these two exceptions ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
                                Article 1
The Annex to Directive 79 / 117 / EEC ls hereby amended as follows :
In entry C. " Ethylene oxide ", in the right-hand column , the final
sentence is replaced by the sentence " Dérogations ( a ), ( d ) and
( e ) above shall expire on 31 December 1989 at the latest and
dérogations ( b ) and ( c ) on 31 December 1990 at the latest ."
                                Article £
Member States shall bring into force the laws , regulations and
administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive
not later than 31 December 1989 . They shall forthwith inform the
Commission thereof .
                                Article 2
This Directive is addressed to the Member States .
Done at                                         For the Council
                                                                    y
 ---pagebreak---                     STATEMENT ON IMPACT ON BUSINESS
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 79 / 117 / EEC prohibiting
the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing
certain active substances ( Doc . 1160 / VI / 89 )
The abovementi oned directive will result in no increased burden on
business as it only proposes the extension of the use of ethylene
oxide for certain uses for which no alternative method is at present
generally available .