CELEX: 51982PC0498
Language: en
Date: 1982-09-09
Title: Amendment to the Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE amending for the fifth time Directive 76/769/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (asbestos) (submitted to the Council by the Commission pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 149 of the EEC Treaty)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (82) 498
Vol. 1982/0167
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In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                              COM(82)498 final
                                              Brussels . 9 September 1982
                     Amendment to the Proposal for a
                            COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
       amending for the fifth time Directive 76 / 769 / EEC on the
      approximation of the laws , regulations and administrative
      provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions
      on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances
                       and preparations ( asbestos )
       ( submitted to the Council by the Commission pursuant to
        the second paragraph of Article 149 of the EEC Treaty )
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 C0M(82 ) 498 final
 ---pagebreak---             AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
            amending for the fifth time Directive 76 / 769 / EEC on the
            approximation of the Laws , regulations and administrative
            provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions
            on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances
            and preparations ( asbestos )
  Pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 149 of the EEC Treaty , the
  recital and article 1 of the Commission 's initial proposal are amended
 as follows :
 To be added at the end of the fourth recital : " such as crocidol ite ";
 To be inserted after the fourth recital :
 '.'Whereas , however there is at present no justification for a total ban
 on crocidolite ( blue asbestos ); and whereas it would be unreasonable to
 suggest that all products containing it should be withdrawn from the market
and scrapped , in view of the fact that the handling of these products for
the purpose of withdrawing or destroying them would be a source of danger
 to health because fibres would be release in the process ;
Whereas certain products containing crocidolite such as seals , used par­
 ticularly in the chemical industry , and asbestos-cement drain- and water
 pipes cannot as yet be replaced by substitutes with at least equivalent
 properties ;
To be inserted after the fifth recital :
Whereas it is necessary to establish suitable measuring and monitoring
methods to detect rapidly any harmful release of fibres , and to adopt
such methods according the procedure laid down in Article 21 of Directive
67 / 548 / EEC on dangerous substances ;
Whereas it is necessary to provide for special labelling indicating the
risks involved in using products containing asbestos fibres ";
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 2 -
Article 1
Original text                            Amended text
5 . Asbestos fibres                      5 . Asbestos fibres
    5.1 . Crocidolite                        5.1 . Crocidolite
          CAS N° 12001 -28 -4                       CAS N° 12001 -28 - 4
          ( blue asbestos )                         ( blue asbestos )
The placing on the market and the            The placing on the market and the use
use of these fibres or of                    of these fibres or of products
products containing them is                  containing them is prohibited .
prohibited .
However , their placing on the               However , products containing these
market and use for the following             fibres which on the date of expiry
purposes shall be authorized :               of the     period   laid down in Article 3
                                             ( 1 ),   had already been used can
a ) the manufacture of asbestos
                                              continue to be used .
    cement pipes ;
b ) the manufacture of acid-resisting
    seals , gaskets and gland packings ,     Besides , the following products are
                                             excluded from this prohibition
provided that the harmful release of
fibres is prevented .                        a ) asbestos cement pipes of a diameter
                                                  of not less than 800 mm
                                             b ) acid -        and high temperature-
                                                  resisting seals , gaskets , gland
                                                  packings and flexible compensators
                                             up to five years following notification
                                             of the Directive and on condition that
                                             the harmful release of fibres is pre­
                                             vented .    A harmful release of fibres
                                             occurs where , in the course of the
                                             normal use of these fibres or of pro­
                                             ducts containing them , the release of
                                             respirable fibres is in excess of 0,2
                                             fibre / ml , to be measured in accordance
                                             with testing methods adopted in
                                             compliance with the procedure laid down
                                             in Article 21 of Directive 67 / 548 / EEC .
                     *
 ---pagebreak---  5.2 . Other asbestos fibres :                 5.2 . Other asbestos fibres
       Chrysotile , CAS N° 12001 -29 -5               Chrysotile , CAS N° 12001 -29-5
       ( white asbestos ),                            ( white asbestos )
       Amosite , CAS N° 12172 -73 -5,                 ( Grunerite ) Amosite , CAS N°
       AnthophyL L ite , CAS N° 17068 -78 -9,        12172 -73 - 5
       Actinolite , CAS N° 13768 -00-8,              Anthophyl I ite , CAS N° 77536 -67 -5
       Tremolite , CAS N° 14567 -73-8                Actinolite , CAS N° 77536-66-4
                                                     Tremolite , CAS N° 77536-68 -6
The placing on the market and the use
of these fibres or of products                5.2.1 . The placing on the market and use
containing them is authorized . However ,            of these fibres or of products
their placing on the market and use                  containing them are prohibited for
for the following purposes shall be                  the following :
prohibited ;                                     a ) thermal and acoustic insulation
                                                     products and fireproof materials ,
a ) thermal and acoustic insulation ;
                                                     other than individual fireproof
b ) the fileteing of air ;
                                                     garments and industrial materials
c ) roadway surfacing
                                                     for special types of protection
unless the harmful      release of fibres
                                                 b ) filters for liquids and medicinal
is prevented .
                                                     products other than those used for
                                                     pyrogenic separation
                                                 c ) gas filters
                                                 d ) paints and varnishes
                                                 e ) domestic appliances
                                                 f ) mortars , roughcast and fillers
                                                 g ) plastic underlays and linings for
                                                     floor or wall coverings
                                                 h ) roadway surfacing
                                                 unless the harmful release of fibres
                                                 is prevented .     A harmful release of
                                                 fibres occurs where , in the course of
                                                 the normal use of these fibres or 0 f
                                                 products containing them , the release
                                                 of respirable asbestos fibres is in
                                                 excess of 1 fibre / ml, to be measured
                                                 in accordance with          testing methods
                                                 adopted in compliance with the proce­
                                                 dure laid down in Article 21 of
                                                 Directive 67 / 548 / EEC .
 ---pagebreak---                                - 4 -
                                5.2.2 . The pLacing on the market and use of these
                                        fibres or of products containing - them is
                                        prohibited for the foLLowing purposes :
                                        a ) toys
                                        b ) materiaLs appLied by spraying and
                                            f Locking
                                        c ) fiLLers and powders for use by the
                                            consumer
5.3 . ALL asbestos fibres      5.3 .    ALL asbestos fibres
The pLacing on the market and           Without prejudice to the aforementioned
the use of asbestoscontaining           prohibitions the pLacing on the market and
products is prohibited when             use of products containing these fibres
these are used soLeLy for deco          shaLL be authorized onLy if LabeLLed in
rative purposes .                       accordance with the foLLowing provisions .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 5 -
                                                h
                 Special provisions on the labelling'
1 . All products containing asbestos shall bear a label conforming
    to the specimen below ,
    - The label shall be at least 5 cm high (H) and 2.5 cm wide (W)
      the top part of which (h^ ■ $0 $ H) shall include the letter "a"
      in white , on a black background, and
      the bottom part (h^ ■ 60 $ H) shall include the standard wording
      in white and/or black on a red background and shall.be clearly
                     *
      legible .
                                    lAHHIHG
                            "2    contains tsbestos
                            60$  Breathing aaboa-
                             H   toa duut may
                                  seriously damage
                                     your health
                                    Observe th.a
                                       eafttty
                                   truBtructions
    If the product contains croc idol it e t the words "contains asbestos
    used in the standard wording shall be replaced by "contains crocidolite/
    blue asbestos ".
    The label shall not be required if the above particulars are clearly
    featured on the container' or on the product itself .
 ---pagebreak--- The label thus defined shall be affixed in accordance with the following
rules :
( a) According to the product containing asbestos , at least once per linear
      metre or square metre and , in any case , once per item for sale.
(b ) Where products have components which contain asbestos , it is
       sufficient for those components only to bear the label .
( c ) The entire surface of the reverse side of the label shall adhere to
      the package .
      If the Label cannot be marked on or securely affixed to the surface of the
      product or component , it shall be attached to it or affixed to the packaging .
( d ) Any product or component falling under this directive and which may
       be processed or further worked should bear the following safety warnings :
          Damp before cutting or drilling .
          Work in a well-ventilated place, if possible out of doors .
          Use manual tools if possible .
          If power tools are necessary , they should be equipped
          with appropriate dust extraction .
Member States may make the placing on the market in their territories
subject to the use of the national or official language or languages
on the labelling.