Directives applicable to one category of materials and articles

Having defined the general framework, the Commission began to study three of the principal materials to be dealt with at Community level, these being regenerated cellulose film, ceramics and plastics. One of the reasons for this choice had to do with the possibility of using the rules for these three sectors as models for other, similar, ones (see Fig. 12-2). The main results obtained are described below. 

For the preparation of the Directive the Commission collected the documentation and evaluated about 150 products considered necessary to manufacture the finished article by the CIPCEL (European professional association in the sector), and then evaluated the risk associated with using them3. The Directive, which has solved the main problems of technical barriers in the sector, established (see Table 12-4)  

Positive list of authorised substances (114 substances 72 compounds and 42 groups of substances) 

Restrictions applicable to authorised substances, expressed in maximum quantity in the finished product except for the limits for MEG and DEG expressed as specific migration limits (= 30 ppm in foodstuffs) 

Only for monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), which under certain circumstances can be transferred in unacceptably high quantities, have migration limits in food been provided for in Directive 86/388/EEC. The positive list has been amended on two occasions (Directives 86/388/EEC and 92/15/EEC) and the Commission took the opportunity of a third amendment (Directive 93/10/EEC) to codify all the directives adopted. Now the positive list contains 72 compounds and 42 groups of substances, i.e. 114 chemical products. 

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