Commission Directive 2003/3/EC of 6 January 2003 relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of "blue colourant" (twelfth adaptation to technical progress of Council Directive 76/769/EEC) (Text with EEA relevance)

• Published date: 09 January 2003
• Subject Matter: Consumer protection,Environment,Approximation of laws
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Union, L 4, 09 January 2003

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Commission Directive 2003/3/EC of 6 January 2003 relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of "blue colourant" (twelfth adaptation to technical progress of Council Directive 76/769/EEC) (Text with EEA relevance)

Official Journal L 004 , 09/01/2003 P. 0012 - 0015

Commission Directive 2003/3/EC

of 6 January 2003

relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of "blue colourant" (twelfth adaptation to technical progress of Council Directive 76/769/EEC)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 76/769/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of dangerous substances and preparations(1), as last amended by Commission Directive 2003/2/EC of 6 January 2003 relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of arsenic (tenth adaptation to technical progress to Council Directive 76/769/EEC)(2) and in particular Article 2(a) thereof, introduced by Council Directive 89/678/EEC(3),

Whereas:

(1) Under Directive 76/769/EEC as amended by Directive 2002/61/EC of the European Parliament and the Council(4) specified azocolourants are not to be used in certain textiles and leather articles; nor may those textiles or leather articles be placed on the market unless they conform to the requirements in that directive.

(2) The risks to the health and environment of "blue colourant Index No 611-070-00-2" have been assessed under Commission Directive 93/67/EEC of 20 July 1993 laying down the principles for the assessment of risks to health and the environment of substances notified in accordance with Council Directive 67/548/EEC(5); the risk assessment identified a need for reducing risks of the blue colourant to the environment as this blue colourant has a high aquatic toxicity, is not easily degradable and reaches the environment via waste water.

(3) In order to protect the environment the placing on the market and the use of the blue colourant should be prohibited for colouring textile and leather articles. The blue colourant should therefore be added to those substances listed in Annex I to Directive 76/769/EEC.

(4) The restrictions on the placing on the market and use of the blue colourant laid down by this Directive...