Document 8RnzBXMqzRqwyX5bEmEGmbBXZ

,, No. 73/65 DEPARTMENT OP CUSTOMS AND EXCISB Customs ind Excise Notice A/jt /A-)_____________ 1 AMENDMENT QE.TUE CUSTOMS (PROHIBITED IMPORTS' REGULATION^ POLYCHLORINATED DIPHENYLS (PCBsl AND.GOODS CONTAINING SUCH SUnSTANCES Statutory Rules 1973 No. 89 notified in the Commonwealth Gazette of 17 May 1973 amend the above-mentioned Regulations by inserting a new regulation (4AB) to prohibit, except with the consent of the Minister, importation of - ' <) substances obtained by chlorinating biphenyls; and to goods containing substances obtained by chlorinating biphenyls. *. The prohibition is designed to rive effect to part of m recently reached by member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operalloirnt----- .. 1111 'ml i "1 Urn iimimfiii iiii hi mill rrrnin III |H HJII Iilni mm mi li i| the use of wfhioh may lead to contamination of the environment. A copy of the Agreement, may be perused, by arrangement, at Customs Houses in the main porta. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PCBa AND REASONS FOR CONTROL 3. Polychlorinated biphenyls, (generally referred to as PCBs), are a group of compounds widely used particularly because of their dielectric properties and non-inflamm ability. Some of these compounds are highly toxic, have a wide dispersal, are persistent In the environment and have a tendency to accumulate in food chains. 4. Hazard to the environment and to human health stems from contamination through Industrial accident. Incomplete destruction of waste material, absorption into food from Inks, paints or plastic wrappers containing PCBs, from wrappings made from certain recycled copying papers or by the occurrence in milk from cows given feed contaminated by PCBa through herbicides etc. 6. Under the Agreement, member countries are required to restrict the use of PCBs to specified approved purposes and to give priority to eliminating their use for purpos es for which there are suitable alternatives. BULK PCBs 9, Permission to Import PCBs in bulk will be given by Collectors - to only for the following purposes - dielectric fluids for transformers or large power factor correction capacitors . beat transfer fluids other than in installations for processing of food, drugs, feed and veterinary products hydraulic fluids in mining equipment; and p) subject to security or undertaking being furnished that - the goods will not be used ior any purpose other tban that for which the approval has been given records of receipt, use and/or disposal will be kept in an approved manner t evidence of use and/or disposal in respect of each shipment received will be furnished supported by statutory declaration HONS 057111 ,../2 -2- PRODUCTS AND ARTICLES CONTAINING PCTBs 8. Permissions to Import products and articles In which bulk PCBs are anoroved for use. (see paragraph 4(a)), will be given by Collectors. " ARRANG EMENTS FOR PHASING OUT CERTAIN OTHER USES Awn PRODUCTS 6. Capacitors: As the Agreement recommends that member countries work towards climinat ing PCBs In sm&il c&pucitors* special Approvals to Import (see paragraph 7) will be required to be obtained for bulk PCBs for this purpose or for oapacitors, (other than large power oorreotion types). containing PCBs. Other Annllnatlona: Under the Recommendation, priority attention is to be given to eliminating PCBs in the following applications - beat transfer fluids in tho food, pharaceutlcal, feed and veterinary industries . plasticizers for paints, inks, copying paper, adhesives, . sealants hydraulio liquids, other than in mining; lubricating oils vacuum fluids; outtlng oils pesticides Accordingly, importations of PCBs for any of the above purposes, or of irtiolas falling within any of the above categories, will be prohibited unless covered by a spec ial approval to import (see paragraph 7). SPECIAL APPROVALS TO IMPORT . T. In the initial stages of the oontrol, special approvals for limited periods may be given in those cases where an importer or manufacturer can demonstrate genuine difficulty in locating or arranging the supply of alternative equivalent raw materials, prod ucts or articles which do not contain PCBs, 6. - . Applications setting out full details of the raw materials, products or articles and reasons lor seeking special consideration are to be lodged with the Assistant Comptroller-General Imports/Exports, Department of Customs and Excise, Canberra. .A.C.T. 2600. 8 Goods in Transit The Minister has approved the importation of - ' goods in transit to Australia as at 17 May 1973 goods covered by irrevocable letter of oredit of 17 May 1973 CANBERRA. A.C.T. 18/6/73 (Valid to 30/9/73 - Imports/Exports. CG 73/431) H.A. Forbes Acting Comptroller-General MOWS 057112