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Reassessing the restricted uses of Lindane

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Longe-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on

Persistent Organic Pollutants

Task Force on Persistent Organic Pollutants

1-3 March 2004

Ingrid Hauzenberger

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Conditions in the Protocol

Article 3, Annex IIHCH (CAS: 608-73-1)

Technical HCH (i.e. HCH mixed isomers) is restricted to use as an intermediate in chemical manufacturing

Products in which at least 99% of the HCH isomer is in the gamma form (i.e. lindane, CAS: 58-89-9) are restricted to the following uses:

1. Seed treatment2. Soil applications directly followed by incorporation into the topsoil surface layer3. Professional remedial and industrial treatment of lumber, timer and logs4. Public health and veterinary topical insecticide.5. Non-aerial application to tree seedlings, small-scale lawn use, and indoor and outdoor use for nursery stock and ornamentals6. Indoor industrial and residential applications

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Conditions in the Protocol

„All restricted uses of lindane shall be reassessed under the Protocol no later than two years after the date of entry into force.“

23. October 2005

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Information Dossier in July 2002

Main outcome*:

Restricted uses stated in the protocol Status in responding countries

1. Seed treatment and logs Terminated in EU-Countries (2002) and Canada (12/2004), Reported by 1 country

2. Soil applications directly followed by incorporation into the topsoil surface layer

No longer supported

3. Professional remedial and industrial treatment of lumber, timer

Reported by 4 countries

4. Public health and veterinary topical insecticide

Reported by 9 countries

5. Non-aerial application to tree seedlings, small-scale lawn use, and indoor and outdoor use for nursery stock and ornamentals

No longer supported

6. Indoor industrial and residential applications Reported by 4 countries

* 46 % of UN-ECE MC responded

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OSPAR, 2002

Lindane Dossier under the OSPAR Convention

Actions:- Investigations of biocidal uses

- Promotion of severe restriction/ban of all uses

- Inclusion in the Stockholm POP Convention?

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Biocides, 2003

Lindane and the BPD 98/8/EC

December 2003, 2. EU-Review Regulation

Notification for product-type 3 (veterinary hygiene biocidal products)

Consequence: Submission of a full dossier by the latest of 31. July 2007

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EU-POP Regulation, 2003

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Persistent Organic Pollutants and amending Directives 79/117/EEC and 96/59/EC

First draft in June 2003

http://europa.eu.int/eurlex/en/com/pdf/2003/com2003_0333en01.pdf

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Regulation Proposal

Biocidal and pharmaceutical uses seem still to exist in some Member States and possibly also in some Candidate Countries.

Total ban of production, marketing and use is not yet regarded possible.

Consequence: Lindane is listed in Annex II

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Regulation Proposal

European Parliament: Adoption on 27/2/2004

HCH (including Lindane) is listed in Annex I (Substances for prohibitons)

Phase out by the end of 2007 at the latest

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Regulation Proposal

By way of derogation, Member States may allow the following uses

until 1.9.2006: 1. Professional remedial and industrial treatment of

lumber, timber and logs;2. Indoor industrial and residential applications. until 31.12.2007:1. Technical HCH for use as an intermediate in chemical

manufacturing;2. Products in which at least 99% of the HCH isomer is in

the gamma form (lindane) are restricted for use as public health and veterinary topical insecticide.

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Activities outside the EU

Lindane Re-registration Eligibility Decision, completed in 2002

Formation of the Lindane Task ForceDevelopment the North American Regional Action Plan for Lindane under the auspices of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation for North America

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Perspectives

New information from the questionnaire in UN-ECE MC Prohibition of lindane by 2007 in the EU Activites under the North American Regional Action Plan

Up-date of Lindane Dossier in the light of the new developments and data (Isomers, Alternatives,)

Recommendations on restricted uses