European Dangerous Substances Legislation Directive

Over a period of 20 years, CESIO [1] has conducted reviews of the toxicological data available on marketed surfactants in order to provide guidance to its member companies on classification and labelling in accordance with European legislation and, initially, the requirements of Annex VI of the Fifth Adaptation to Technical Progress [2] of the Dangerous Substances Directive. The first review was carried out in 1984 [3] and the second several years later, being completed in 1990 [4]. Recommendations were made based on data available at that time on acute oral toxicity, skin and eye irritation and skin sensitisation studies. 

The focus of European legislation for battery waste has been to reduce the impact on the environment of batteries containing heavy metals. Council Directive 91/157/EEC on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances was introduced with the aim of restricting the use of batteries containing cadmium, mercury and lead and controlling their disposal. 

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