Brussels, 14/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following the lead set by the European Commission on 24 January, on Tuesday it was the Council's turn to reject the amendments to the directive on limiting the marketing and use of short-chain chlorinated paraffin (SCCP) adopted by the European Parliament in second reading. The Council therefore called for a meeting of the Conciliation Committee.
The proposal aims to provide a high level of environmental protection by banning the marketing of SCCP for machining metals and finishing leather. The main amendment the Council refused to accept was the extension of the scope of the ban on SCCP to its use as paint and filler plastifiers and flame retardants for rubber, plastic and textiles. In an opinion published on 24 January, the Commission and Council argue that banning these uses of SCCP is unjustified since the risk assessment had concluded there was no risk. The second amendment tabled by the EP on 29 November 2001 calls on the Commission to put forward proposals to cut the use of linked substances. Other chlorinated paraffins are currently undergoing a risk assessment exercise and could soon be subject to restrictions or banks once the evaluation process has been completed.