Regulations relating to restrictions on the manufacture, import, export, sale and use of chemicals and other products hazardous to health and the environment (Product Control Regulations). This is an unofficial translation of the Norwegian regulation.

Section 2-1. Vinyl chloride

The use of vinyl chloride (chlorethene/chlorethylene, CAS no. 75-01-4) as a propellant in spray/aerosol cans is prohibited.

Section 2-2. PCBs and replacements for PCBs

It is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, sell and use substances or preparations that contain:

Name
CAS no.

a) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)
1336-36-3

b) polychlorinated terphenyls (PCT) if the preparations contain more than 0.005 percent by weight of PCT
12642-23-8

c) dichloro [(dichlorophenyl)methyl] methylbenzene, mixture of isomers
76253-60-6

d) bromobenzylbromotoluene, mixture of isomers
99688-47-8

e) monomethyl-dichlorodiphenyl methane
unknown

Section 2-3. Benzene

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of substances or preparations that contain 0.1 percent by weight or more of benzene (CAS no. 71-43-2) is prohibited. The prohibition does not apply to

a) fuels covered by provisions relating to substances that are hazardous to health and the environment in motor petrol,

b) substances or preparations that are intended for use in industrial processes where the discharge of benzene is permitted and regulated by a discharge permit issued in accordance with section 11 of the Pollution Control Act.

The manufacture, import, export and sale of toys or parts of toys in which the concentration of benzene in the free state is in excess of 5 mg per kg is prohibited.

Section 2-4. Benzidine, 4-aminobiphenyl, 2-naphthylamine, 4-nitrobiphenyl

The manufacture, import, export and sale of substances and preparations that contain the following substances or their salts is prohibited:

Name
CAS no.

a) benzidine
92-87-5

b) 4-aminobiphenyl
92-67-1

c) 2-naphthylamine
91-59-8

d) 4-nitrobiphenyl
92-93-3

The prohibition does not apply to the manufacture, import, export and sale of preparations for professional use that contain less than 0.1 percent by weight of the substances mentioned in the first subsection, or their salts. In addition to the regulatory labelling indicating health, environmental, fire and explosion hazards, the packaging shall bear, in lettering that is indelible and easily legible, the words: «Bare til yrkesmessig bruk» [”For professional use only”].

Section 2-5. Lead and lead compounds

It is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, sell and use paints that contain:

Name
CAS no.

Lead carbonates
598-63-0 and 1319-46-6

Lead sulphates
7446-14-2 and 15739-80-7

The use of lead shot on target ranges is prohibited. From 1 January 2005, the manufacture, import, export, sale and use of lead shot is prohibited.

Section 2-6. Mercury and mercury compounds

It is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, sell and use substances or preparations that contain mercury or mercury compounds

a) to prevent the fouling by micro-organisms, plants and animals of ships’ hulls and devices or equipment that are wholly or partially submerged in water,

b) for the treatment of water that is used in industry, irrespective of the use the water is put to,

c) in wood preservation,

d) to impregnate heavy-duty industrial textiles and yarn used in their manufacture.

The manufacture, import, export and sale of mercury thermometers is prohibited. The prohibition on mercury thermometers also applies to thermometers to be used for analysis and research purposes.

Section 2-7. Arsenic and arsenic compounds

It is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, sell and use substances or preparations that contain arsenic or arsenic compounds

a) to prevent the fouling by micro-organisms, plants and animals of ships’ hulls and devices or equipment that are wholly or partially submerged in water,

b) in wood preservation,

c) for the treatment of water that is used in industry, irrespective of the use the water is put to.

The prohibition in the first subsection, letters a and b, does not apply to solutions of inorganic salts of the CCA type (copper, chromium and arsenic) used in industrial installations for the pressure or vacuum impregnation of wood.

Section 2-8. Organic tin compounds

It is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, sell and use substances or preparations that contain tributyltin and triphenyltin compounds.

It is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, sale and use substances or preparations that contain other organic tin compounds

a) to prevent the fouling by micro-organisms, plants and animals of ships’ hulls and devices or equipment that are wholly or partially submerged in water,

b) for the treatment of water that is used in industry, irrespective of the use the water is put to.

The prohibition on the use specified in the first and second subsections does not apply to

a) the presence of organic tin compounds to prevent the fouling of vessels over 25 metres in length if the agents were applied before 1 January 2003. This exception applies until 1 January 2008,

b) the presence of organic tin compounds to prevent the fouling of vessels over 25 metres in length if the agents were applied before 1 January 2003 and have been sealed and painted over such that no further leakage will occur,

c) the presence of organic tin compounds to prevent the fouling of fixed and floating installations on the Norwegian continental shelf if the agents were applied before 1 January 2003 and the installation has not been in dry dock since 1 January 2003.

Section 2-9. Dibutyltin hydrogen borate (di-µ-oxo-di-n-butylstanniohydroxyborane (DBB))

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of substances or preparations that contain 0.1 percent by weight or more of dibutyltin hydrogen borate (di-µ-oxo-di-n-butylstanniohydroxyborane (DBB), CAS no. 75113-37-0) is prohibited.

The prohibition does not apply if the substances or preparations are intended exclusively for conversion into finished products with a concentration of DBB of 0.01 percent by weight or less.

Section 2-10. Pentachlorophenol

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of substances or preparations containing pentachlorophenol (CAS no. 87-86-5) or its salts or esters in concentrations of 0.1 percent by weight or more is prohibited.

Section 2-11. Cadmium and cadmium compounds in colouring agents

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of paints and varnishes containing cadmium (CAS no. 7440-43-9) or cadmium compounds is prohibited. Paints and varnishes with a high zinc content may nevertheless have a residual concentration of cadmium of up to 0.1 percent by weight.

The use of cadmium (CAS no. 7440-43-9) or cadmium compounds to colour products manufactured of the following substances or preparations is prohibited:

a) polyvinylchloride (PVC),

b) polyurethane (PUR),

c) low density polyethene (LDPE), with the exception of LDPE that is used for the manufacture of colour master batch,

d) cellulose acetate (CA),

e) cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB),

f) epoxy resins,

g) melamine-formaldehyde resins (MF),

h) urea-formaldehyde resins (UF),

i) unsaturated polyesters (UP),

j) polyethene terephthalate (PET),

k) polybutene terephthalate (PBT),

l) transparent/general purpose polystyrene,

m) acrylonitrile methylmethacrylate (AMMA),

n) cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE),

o) high-impact polystyrene,

p) polypropylene (PP).

Also prohibited is the import, export and sale of these kinds of products if the cadmium content in the plastic, expressed as Cd metal, exceeds 0.01 percent by weight.

The prohibitions do not apply to products that must be coloured for safety reasons.

Section 2-12. Cadmium and cadmium compounds used as stabilisers in products

The use of cadmium or cadmium compounds to stabilise the following products manufactured from polymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride is prohibited:

a) packaging (bags, containers, bottles, lids),

b) office or school supplies,

c) fittings for furniture, bodywork and similar,

d) articles of clothing and accessories, including gloves,

e) floor and wall coverings,

f) impregnated, coated, laminated, etc., textiles,

g) imitation leather,

h) gramophone records,

i) pipes and cables and their accessories,

j) swing doors,

k) vehicles for road transport, and their parts and accessories,

l) coatings on steel plates that are used in construction or engineering or in industry,

m) insulation for electrical cables.

The import, export and sale of these kinds of products or components of products is prohibited if they are stabilised with cadmium compounds and the cadmium content in the polymer, expressed as Cd metal, is greater than 0.01 percent by weight.

The prohibitions do not apply to products where the cadmium stabiliser is used for safety reasons.

Section 2-13. Cadmium and cadmium compounds in the surface treatment of metal

Surface treatment means any form of deposit or coating of metallic cadmium on a metal surface.

The use of cadmium and cadmium compounds for the surface treatment of metal products or metal components that are used in the following sectors or applications is prohibited:

a) equipment and machinery for use in

- food production,
- agriculture,
- cooling and freezing,
- printing and book binding,

b) equipment and machinery for the manufacture of

- household goods,
- furniture,
- sanitary products,
- central heating and air conditioning equipment,
- paper and paper products,
- textiles and clothing,
- industrial handling equipment and machinery,
- road and agricultural vehicles,
- rolling stock,
- ships.

The import, export and sale of these kinds of products or components is prohibited if they are surface-treated with cadmium or cadmium compounds.

The prohibitions stated in the second and third subsections do not apply to products or components that are used in

a) aviation, aerospace, mining, offshore, nuclear plants and other areas that require high safety standards,

b) safety equipment in road and agricultural vehicles, rolling stock and ships,

c) electrical contacts in any application to ensure the reliability required for the equipment in which they are installed.

Section 2-14. Creosote

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use for wood protection of substances or preparations that contain one or more of the following substances is prohibited:

Name
EC no.
CAS no.

a) creosote
232-287-5
8001-58-9

b) creosote oil
263-047-8
61789-28-4

c) distillates (coal tar), naphthalene oils
283-484-8
84650-04-4

d) creosote oil, acenaphtene fraction
292-605-3
90640-84-9

e) distillates (coal tar), upper
266-026-1
65996-91-0

f) anthracene oil
292-602-7
90640-80-5

g) tar acids, coal, crude
266-019-3
65996-85-2

h) creosote, wood
232-419-1
8021-39-4

i) low temperature coal tar, alkaline
310-191-5
122384-78-5

The prohibition does not apply to the manufacture, import, export, sale and use of substances or preparations that are to be used for the treatment of wood in industrial installations or retreatment of wood executed on site by professionals covered by the provisions of the EEA Agreement on the protection of employees if the substances or preparations contain 

a) benzo(a)pyrene in a concentration of less than 0.005 percent by weight,

b) water-extractable phenols in concentrations of less than 3 percent by weight.

Substances and preparations that are mentioned in subsection two may only be manufactured, imported, exported and sold in packaging of a minimum of 20 litres. In addition to the regulatory labelling indicating health, environmental, fire and explosion hazards, the packaging shall bear, in lettering which is indelible and easily legible, the words «Bare til bruk i industrianlegg eller til yrkesmessig bruk» [”For use in industrial installations or for professional use only”].

Section 2-15. Chlorinated solvents

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of substances and preparations that contain 0.1 percent by weight or more of the following substances is prohibited:

Name
CAS no.

a) trichloromethane
67-66-3

b) 1,1,2-trichloroethane
79-00-5

c) 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane
79-34-5

d) 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane
630-20-6

e) pentachloroethane
76-01-7

f) 1,1-dichloroethene
75-35-4

The prohibition does not apply to

a) medicinal products as defined in Act no. 132 of 4 December 1992 relating to medicinal products, etc.,

b) cosmetic products as defined in Regulations no. 871 of 26 October 1995 relating to the manufacture, import and marketing, etc., of cosmetics and skin care products.

Neither does the prohibition apply if the substances or preparations are only used in closed industrial processes that do not generate diffuse discharges. In addition to the regulatory labelling indicating health, environmental, fire and explosion hazards, the packaging for these substances and preparations shall bear, in lettering which is indelible and easily legible, the words: «Bare til bruk i lukkede industriprosesser» [”Only for use in closed industrial processes”].

Section 2-16. Hexachloroethane

The use of hexachloroethane (CAS no. 67-72-1, EC no. 200-666-4) in the manufacture or processing of non-ferrous metals is prohibited.

Section 2-17. Short chain chlorinated paraffins

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of short chain chlorinated paraffins is prohibited. The prohibition also applies to preparations and solid processed products that contain more than 0.1 percent by weight of short chain chlorinated paraffins. Short chain chlorinated paraffins are chlorinated alkanes with 10–13 carbon atoms in the chain and a minimum of 48 percent chlorine by weight.

For conveyor belts in the mining industry and sealing materials for dams, the prohibition shall enter into force on 1 January 2005.

Section 2-18. Nonylphenol, octylphenol and their ethoxylates

It is prohibited to manufacture, import, export, sell and use

Nonylphenol
C6 H4 (OH)C9 H19

Nonylphenolethoxylate
(C2 H4 O)nC15 H24 O

in concentrations of or in excess of 0.1 percent by weight for the following purposes:

a) cleaning, with the exception of

- commercial chemical cleaning in controlled closed systems
- commercial applications in special cleaning systems

where the cleaning agent is recovered or combusted

b) textile and leather processing, with the exception of

- processing when there is no discharge of waste water
- in systems where the process water is pretreated so that organic substances are removed before the waste water is biologically cleaned (degreasing of sheepskin)

c) as an emulsifier in teat dipping solutions in agriculture

d) metal processing, except in closed systems where the cleaning solution is recovered or combusted

e) the manufacture of paper and paper pulp

f) in cosmetics and other personal care products, with the exception of spermicidal agents

g) as an adjuvant in pesticides and biocides. Pesticides or biocides that contain nonylphenolethoxylates as an adjuvant and that were approved before 9 January 2003 can nevertheless be manufactured, imported, exported, sold and used until the approval expires.

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of octylphenol and octylphenolethoxylates and preparations that contain these substances, is prohibited. The prohibition does not apply to paints, varnishes, lubricating oils and solid processed products. Similarly, the prohibition does not apply if the use of these substances is regulated by other legislation.

Amended by Regulations no. 1479 of 17 November 2004 (in force from 1 January 2005).

Section 2-19. Acrylamide and methylolacrylamide

The use of substances or preparations that contain acrylamide (CAS no. 79-06-1) or methylolacrylamide (CAS no. 924-42-5) for sealing water leakages in connection with construction work is prohibited.

The prohibition does not apply to polyacrylamide products that contain less than 1 percent by weight of acrylamide or methylolacrylamide or less than 1 percent by weight of the two substances together.

Section 2-20. Penta- and octa-BDEs

The manufacture, import, export, sale and use of substances and preparations that contain 0.1 percent by weight or more of the following substances is prohibited:

Name
CAS no.
Formula

a) Pentabromodiphenyl ether
32534-81-9
C12 H5 Br5 O

b) Octabromodiphenyl ether
32536-52-0
C12 H2 Br8 O

The manufacture, import, export and sale of products or flame-retarding components of products that contain 0.1 percent by weight or more of these substances is also prohibited.

The prohibition shall only apply to pentabromodiphenyl ether in evacuation equipment in aircraft after 31 March 2006.

Amended by Regulations no. 1073 of 22 September 2005.

Section 2-21. DEET

The manufacture, import and sale of insect-repellent products that contain more than 20% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, CAS no. 134-62-3) is prohibited.

In addition to the regulatory labelling indicating health, environmental, fire and explosion hazards, insect repellents that contain DEET, cf. subsection one, shall also bear, in lettering which is indelible and easily legible, the words: «Må ikke brukes på barn under 3 år, brukes med forsiktighet på større barn.» [”Must not be used on children under the age of 3; use with care on older children.”]

The prohibition on sale shall enter into force on 1 April 2005. Products that were placed on the market before 1 January 2005 may be sold without the labelling specified in section 2-21, subsection two, until 1 April 2005.

Added by Regulations no. 1479 of 17 November 2004 (in force from 1 January 2005).

Section 2-22. Asbestos

The manufacture, import, export and sale of asbestos fibres or products containing these fibres that have been intentionally added is prohibited. Asbestos fibres means fibres from the following substances:

The prohibition shall not apply to the import and sale of diaphragms made of chrysotile (CAS no. 12001-29-5) for existing electrolysis installations until they reach the end of their service life or until suitable asbestos-free substitutes become available, whichever is the sooner. Existing electrolysis installations means installations established before 1 July 2005. When they are imported or sold, these kinds of diaphragms shall bear a label in accordance with Appendix I to this chapter.

Added by Regulations no. 740 of 29 June 2005.