Message 002
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2022) 04235
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Translation of the message 001
Notification: 2022/0826/B
No abre el plazo - Nezahajuje odklady - Fristerne indledes ikke - Kein Fristbeginn - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délais - Non fa decorrere la mora - Neietekmē atlikšanu - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Ma’ jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dawmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Neotvorí oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Inleder ingen frist - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare.
(MSG: 202204235.EN)
1. MSG 002 IND 2022 0826 B EN 29-11-2022 B NOTIF
2. B
3A. SPF Economie, PME, Classes moyennes et Energie
Direction générale Qualité et Sécurité - Service Normalisation et Compétitivité - BELNotif
NG III – 2ème étage
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 16
B - 1000 Bruxelles
be.belnotif@economie.fgov.be
3B. SPF Santé Publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement
Direction générale Environnement - Service Division Politique des Produits Chimiques - Maîtrise des Risques liés aux Produits Chimiques
Avenue Galilée, 5/2
B - 1210 Bruxelles
4. 2022/0826/B - C10C
5. Royal Decree prohibiting the export of certain hazardous substances to non-EU countries
6. The export ban established by the draft Royal Decree concerns a limited number of hazardous substances, on their own or in mixtures: the hazardous substances listed in Annexes 1 and 3 of the draft Decree. The export ban aims to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment.
7. -
8. The draft Royal Decree prohibits the export of certain hazardous substances – on their own or in mixtures – from Belgian territory to countries outside the European Union.
Annex 1 provides a list of hazardous substances which, by meeting the criteria laid down in Article 4(2) of the Decree, are banned from exportation. Only substances listed in Annex 1 of the PIC Regulation may be banned from exportation. The criteria reflect the objective of banning exports outside the European Union of hazardous substances that are banned in the European Union with a view to ensuring a high level of protection of health and the environment. Finally, hazardous substances must be identified as carcinogenic (C), mutagenic (M), toxic for reproduction (R), category 1 A, 1B or II, or as aquatic acute/chronic I.
This list is intended to be updated, in the light of scientific and technical progress and legislative developments at the international and European level, by the procedure laid down in Annex 2 to the draft Decree. In summary, the proposed update should contain information demonstrating that the substance(s) proposed for inclusion in Annex 1 meet the criteria set out in the Decree to be banned from exportation outside the European Union. There is also an obligation to update the list on a regular basis, at least every two years. In particular, the update will make it possible to include in Annex 1 substances listed in Annex 3 and thus completely prohibit the exportation of substances listed in that Annex to third countries.
Annex 3 provides a list of hazardous substances for which one or more uses are or are still authorised at European level and therefore cannot be exported, except for the purpose of this/these specific use(s).
9. Despite the export ban on certain chemicals and the obligation to notify exportation and/or to follow the PIC procedure under Regulation (EU) 649/2012 PIC, the production and storage of chemicals for export to third countries remains permitted (“double standards policy”). As a result, citizens end up with imported products treated with chemicals whose use is prohibited within the European Union (“boomerang effect”). Belgium is one of the largest exporters of chemicals.
This policy can be considered a violation of the principle of non-discrimination. In addition, the right to access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment has been recognised by the UN General Assembly as a universal human right.
In the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the European Commission stated that it will ensure that hazardous chemicals banned in the EU are not produced for exportation, including by amending legislation where necessary. However, this action of the Strategy has not yet been implemented. France has meanwhile adopted a measure prohibiting the production, storage and circulation of plant protection products containing non-approved active substances. Germany also wanted to adopt a similar measure and encourage the adoption of an export ban at European level. It is now up to Belgium to take steps to address the problem of exporting banned hazardous substances in Europe.
10. No reference text exists
11. No
12. -
13. No
14. No
15. -
16. TBT aspect
No - The draft does not have a significant impact on international trade.
SPS aspect
No - The draft is not a sanitary or phytosanitary measure.
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Fax: +32 229 98043
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
