Activites

• 1999/07/30 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 1999/45
  • OJ L 200 30.07.1999, p. 0001
• 1999/05/31 Final act signed
• 1999/05/31 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2176
• 1999/05/11 Council Meeting
• 1999/02/10 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T4-0092/1999 summary

    At second reading under codecision procedure, the European Parliament adopted the report by Monica Stefania Baldi (UPE,IT) on common position 54/98/EC adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of 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. The report proposes three amendments to the common position: - requiring that the Commission be assisted by a committee of representatives of the Member States, chaired by a Commission representative; - exempting testing of algae, daphnia and fish if a test result is already available before the proposed directive enters into force; - amending labelling requirements for preparations containing a sensitising substance to state simply "may produce an allergic reaction" rather than limiting this warning to "persons already sensitised".�

• 1999/02/09 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1999/01/20 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A4-0020/1999
• 1998/10/22 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2117
• 1998/09/24 Council Meeting
  • 08956/1/1998 summary

    The tenor of the common position of the Council was similar to that of the initial proposal by the Commission, and it incorporated many amendments adopted by the European Parliament at first reading. The Council particularly accepted the amendments seeking to: -require the Commission to submit a report, accompanied, if appropriate, by the necessary proposals concerning labelling requirements applicable to dangerous preparations (the Commission undertook to initiate without delay research into how well users understood labelling); -clarify the objectives of the Directive and specify that its scope includes non-dangerous preparations which may present a specific danger; -clarify the general principles of classification and labelling; -impose restrictions on animal testing where alternatives exist; -confirm the practice already in force with regard to packaging for transport and supply; -formulate the principles which apply to labelling requirements for preparations classified as dangerous for the environment when supplied in small packagings; -ban the inclusion in labelling of such indications as 'ecological' which might cause the dangers to be underestimated; -make it clear that safety data sheets are principally intended for professional users; -in the case of unclassified preparations, extend the requirement to draw up safety data sheets to preparations containing substances dangerous to the environment. As regards the annexes, the Council accepted the amendments seeking to: -insert in Annex III a lower concentration limit (0.1% instead of 0.5%) for classification of preparations containing ozone-depleting substances; -remove the requirement for a tactile danger warning on aerosols classified and labelled as extremely flammable or highly flammable. The Council also made changes with regard to the following points: -evaluation of health hazards and environmental hazards: this provision would make it possible to introduce into Annexes II and III other conventional methods, which might be necessary for alloys; -labelling of plant protection products: the principle underlying labelling of such products was developed further. The message on labels concerning risks would be complemented by a special phrase. Labels on plant protection products would moreover include the normal information about risks, particularly danger symbols and indications; -confidentiality of names of dangerous substances: the provisions concerning confidentiality of chemical names now covered safety data sheets as well. Requests for confidentiality would be authorised not only for dangerous substances but also for irritants. A less bureaucratic notification procedure was also introduced; -arrangements under the accession treaty: the new Member States (Austria, Sweden and Finland) would not be required to transpose the existing Community acquis at the beginning of 1999. The Council opted for a type IIIb committee for measures to implement the Directive.�

• #2094
• 1998/05/18 Council Meeting
• #2033
• 1997/10/16 Council Meeting
  • 2033
• 1997/09/23 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1997)0462 summary

    The Commission's amended proposal incorporates, wholly or in part, 16 of the 26 amendments adopted by Parliament at first reading. These amendments relate mainly to labelling, classification and packaging. a) Regarding labelling, the amended proposal: - emphasizes the need for a study of label comprehensibility and a review of the existing rules on labelling if necessary; - introduces the possibility of not requiring full labelling on preparations classified as dangerous for the environment, when they are supplied in small packages (volume less than 125 ml); - prohibits using on labels of preparations covered by the Directive expressions such as 'environmentally friendly' and 'ecological' or expressions that lead to the danger being underestimated In the case of Annex V, Part C, the amendments accepted are those which: - address the specific warning on sensitizing effects to all persons; - modify the phrase to be used on packages of non-classified preparations for which a safety data sheet is available on request; - propose an addition to Annex V, consisting of specific rules on the labelling of plant protection products. b) Regarding classification, the amended proposal: - introduces restrictions on animal testing where alternative methods are available, and adds provisions concerning data on effects on man; - expresses a clear preference for the conventional method or in vitro methods (alternative methods) for the classification of preparations; - introduces a lower concentration limit (0.1% instead of 0.5%) for classification of preparations containing ozone depleting substances. c) Finally, on the subject of packaging, the amended proposal: - enshrines a well-established practice, namely the need to adapt packaging to the mode of transport and delivery; - removes, from Annex IV, Part B, paragraph 2, the requirement for a tactile danger warning (a special warning for blind persons) on aerosols classified as extremely flammable or highly flammable. �

• 1997/06/26 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0350/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mrs Monica BALDI (UPE, I) by 216 votes to 125 with 3 abstentions Parliament strengthened the provisions of the Commission proposal on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations. In its amendments Parliament states that tests on animals may be carried out only if the toxicological properties of a preparation cannot be established in any other way, possibly on the basis of the conventional method or validated alternative method not using tests on animals. It also requires that if a preparation is advertised on television, radio, in the printed media, on posters, by mail shots or other marketing methods there must be a clear reference to every hazardous property of the preparation. Parliament also demands that information such as 'non-harmful' and 'eco' or any other statement indicating that a preparation is not dangerous or which might lead to an underestimation of the hazards of such preparations should not appear on the packaging or labelling of the preparations subject to this directive. �

• 1997/06/25 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament summary

    Among other issues, the rapporteur called for safety data sheets to be introduced for preparations containing substances not classified as dangerous and for easily understandable labelling to warn consumers of the risks posed by a product and to provide precautionary advice. Commissioner Bangemann was in favour of Amendments Nos 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 27 and 31 to 39. He agreed with the principle of Amendments Nos 6, 17, 24, 29 and 30 but was against Amendment No 4 on tests on animals and Amendments Nos 8, 9, 11 and 12 on Austria. In this respect, the Commission took account of the specific nature of this country’s legislation. It also did not accept the provision requiring the chemical names of all dangerous substances contained in a preparation, even in concentrations below the threshold level, to be mentioned on the label.

• 1997/05/21 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0186/1997
• 1996/09/04 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1996/07/18 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1996)0347 summary

    OBJECTIVE: the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive seeks to harmonize the provisions on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations marketed in Europe in order to do away with obstacles to trade and guarantee a high level of health and environmental protection. SUBSTANCE: the proposal contains provisions which replace and consolidate the existing law on dangerous preparations (Directive 88/379/EEC), but also fresh provisions designed to: - update the directive in order to take account of the changes and bring the related directives into line with technical progress with a view to making them more user-friendly, particularly for SMUs and SMIs; - extend certain provisions of the directive to cover plant protection products, explosives and preparations which, without being dangerous within the meaning of the directive, may pose a danger to users; - introduce provisions on preparations which are dangerous to the environment. �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1996)0347
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0186/1997
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0350/1997
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1997)0462
• Debate in Council: 2033
• Council position published: 08956/1/1998
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A4-0020/1999
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T4-0092/1999
• : Directive 1999/45
• : OJ L 200 30.07.1999, p. 0001

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)