The BLC Leather Technology Centre of the United Kingdom has repeated its warning to the country’s tanners on the impending introduction of new European environment legislation.
Current UK legislation only directly specifies a limit on PCP (pentachlorophenol) of 1000 ppm. When the new Euro rules come into force on September 11 2003, however, limits will also be set for certain azo dyes. Further chemicals may be added as part of EU directive 76/769/EEC which is constantly being updated, with German consumer goods legislation being the key driver. If negligence is demonstrated, prison sentences can result, BLC says.
However, the organisation said it was ‘not complex’ to avoid these problems as it was relatively easy to ensure that limits for PCPs and Azo dyes are met by using correct chemical selections. The organisation also emphasised the importance ofknowing the different environmental rules that apply in different markets, so that compliance of the end product is ensured.
