Consultation Document

Proposals for the export and import of dangerous chemicals Regulations 2004

Consultation ended 2 July 2004

Summary

EC Regulation 304/2003 replaced 2455/92 on the 7 March 2003. The new Regulation maintains the control measures of 2455/92 and implements a number of new measures sufficient to allow the European Community to;

1. implement the Rotterdam Convention - an internationally recognised scheme agreed 1998 for the application of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade; and
2. reinforce the existing controls by including-
   
   1. the separation of chemicals into sub-categories for pesticides and industrial chemicals for professional and consumer use;
   2. banning the export of chemicals from Community substances banned for use within the Community;
   3. requiring chemicals to be exported at least six months before their expiry date;
   4. extending the requirements of information exchange and technical assistance, and
   5. adding 22 substances banned or severely restricted within the Community to the list requiring export notification.