THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty,
Whereas:
(1)
The risks presented to man and the environment by toluene and trichlorobenzene (TCB) have been assessed under Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances. The risk evaluation identified a need to limit those risks, and the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) confirmed that conclusion.
(2)
Commission Recommendation 2004/394/EC of 29 April 2004 on the results of the risk evaluation and the risk reduction strategies for the substances: acetonitrile; acrylamide; acrylonitrile; acrylic acid; butadiene; hydrogen fluoride; hydrogen peroxide; methacrylic acid; methyl methacrylate; toluene; trichlorobenzene, adopted within the framework of Regulation (EEC) No 793/93, contains a strategy for limiting risks of toluene and TCB, recommending restrictions to limit the risks from certain uses of these substances.
(3)
In order to protect human health and the environment, it therefore appears necessary that the placing on the market and the use of toluene and TCB should be restricted.
(4)
The aim of this Directive is to introduce harmonising measures with regard to toluene and TCB, which have as their object the proper functioning of the internal market whilst ensuring a high level of protection of human health and of the environment, as required by Article 95 of the Treaty.
(5)
This Directive is to apply without prejudice to Community legislation laying down minimum requirements for the protection of workers, contained in Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work, and individual directives based thereon, in particular Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (14th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (sixth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC).
(6)
Directive 76/769/EEC should be amended accordingly,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: