Regulations concerning the Regulation of Certain Chemicals in Textiles

Laid down by the Ministry of the Environment on 8 April 1999 in pursuance of the Product Control Act (No. 79 of l l June 1976) section 4, ref Royal Decree of 7 September 1990. Ref EEA Agreement annex II chapter XIX (Council Directive 831189 as amended by Council Directive 881182 and European Parliament and Council Directive 94110)

Section 1 Purpose

The purpose of these regulations is to prevent textiles containing formaldehyde and certain azo dyes from resulting in harm or the risk of harm to the health of users of textiles or to the environment.

Section 2 Prohibition against the use of azo dyes in textiles

The manufacture, import, export and sale of textiles containing azo dyes which can split into one of the arylamines mentioned in Annex 1 is prohibited.

Section 3 Limits for formaldehyde in textiles

The manufacture, import, export and sale of textiles containing free and partially hydrolysed formaldehyde in excess of the limits set out in the table below is prohibited.

In the case of textile products with a consumer guidance label which recommends washing the textiles before use, the above limits apply after the textiles have been washed in accordance with the instructions.

Section 4 Requirement as to analysis methods

For analysis of arylamines the method referred to in German regulation of azo dyes shall be used until such time as a standardised analysis method is available. For analysis of formaldehyde the Finnish standard SFS 4996 "Analysis of formaldehyde" shall be used.

Section 5 Supervision

'Me Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, or whoever the Ministry of Environment authorises, supervises compliance with these regulations.

Section 6 Exceptions

The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, or whoever the Ministry of the Environment authorises, may make exceptions from the prohibition by regulations or by individual decision.

Section 7 Coercive fines

In order to ensure the implementation of the provisions of these regulations or of any decision rendered in pursuance of these regulations the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, or whoever the Ministry of the Environment authorises, may impose coercive fines pursuant to the Product Control Act section 13.

Section 8 Appeal

Individual decisions rendered in pursuance of these regulations may be appealed to the Ministry of the Environment or whoever the Ministry of the Environment authorises.

Section 9 Penalties

Violation of these regulations or of any decision rendered in pursuance of these regulations is punishable under the Production Control Act section 12, unless severer penal provisions are applicable.

Section 10 Entry into force

Ilese regulations enter into force immediately. Textiles manufactured in Norway, or imported into Norway before the these regulations enter into force, may nonetheless be sold in Norway until 1 January 2000.

Comments on the regulations

General:

The regulation concerning limitation of marketing and use of certain dangerous chemicals of 21 December 1993 as amended on 6 March 1998 regulate the import, export, manufacture and sale of buttons, buckles, zippers and similar items containing nickel for use in textiles, and the use of certain flame-retarding agents in textiles.

On section 1

The regulations encompass all types of textiles.

On section 2

Azo dyes are organic compounds of the type (-N=N-).

On section 4

The method accepted by the German government, which these regulations require to be used until a standardised analysis method is available, is published in the journal I'Arntliche SammIung von Analysenmethoden nach § 35 des Lebensmittel- und Bedarfsgegenstdndegesetz" Methode B-82.02, blatt 2 und 4. ISBN 3-410-11220-0.

The loose-leaf edition can be ordered from Beuth Verlag, Burggrafenstr. 6, D-10787 Berlin.

Annex 1

The use in textiles of azo dyes which can split into one of the arylamines listed below is prohibited.

Arylamines encompassed by the regulation