(1)

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) concluded in its opinion of 26–27 June 2012 (2) that 3- and 4-(4-Hydroxy-4-methylpentyl) cyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde (HICC), with the INCI name of Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, 2,6-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzaldehyde (atranol) and 3-Chloro-2,6-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzaldehyde (chloroatranol) should not be used in cosmetic products as they are the fragrance allergens which caused the highest number of contact allergies cases in past years.

(2)

Consequently, there is a potential risk to human health and those substances should therefore be prohibited in cosmetic products.

(3)

HICC is regulated in entry 79 of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, where it is provided that its presence must be indicated in the list of ingredients referred to in Article 19(1)(g) of that Regulation when its concentration exceeds 0,001 % in leave-on products and 0,01 % in rinse-off products. Since HICC should be prohibited in cosmetic products, it is necessary to delete that entry.

(4)

The SCCS indicated in its opinion of 26-27 June 2012 that atranol and chloroatranol are natural components of oak tree moss (Evernia prunastri) and treemoss (Evernia furfuracea) extracts regulated in entry 91 and 92, respectively, of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

(5)

It is appropriate to provide for reasonable periods of time in order for the industry to adapt to the new prohibitions and for this reason no longer place or make available on the market products concerned which contain one or more of the prohibited substances. When determining those periods of time, due account should also be taken of the potential risk of those products to human health. The restriction for HICC set out in entry 79 of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 should continue to apply until the making available of products containing that substance is no longer allowed. The deletion of that entry should therefore be deferred.

(6)

In particular, the exceptionally complex and lengthy procedure for fragrance reformulation and consumers' concerns over the change of the olfactory properties of fragrances should be reflected in longer than usual duration of the deadline given to the industry for adjustments of products. Manifestations of contact allergies to fragrances are normally confined to skin. Consumers with contact allergy to fragrance allergens often are aware that they cannot tolerate scented products on their skin and therefore can avoid them.

(7)

Annex II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products,

(1)

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 lists the persons, groups and entities covered by the freezing of funds and economic resources under that Regulation.

(2)

On 28 July 2017, the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council decided to remove one natural person from the list of persons, groups and entities to whom the freezing of funds and economic resources should apply. Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

According to Directive 2008/106/EC, Member States may decide to recognise by endorsement seafarers' appropriate certificates of competence or proficiency issued by third countries, provided that the third country concerned is recognised by the Commission. Those third countries have to meet all the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (‘STCW Convention’).

(2)

On 18 February 2011, Germany requested the recognition of Fiji. Following that request, the Commission contacted the Fijian authorities with a view to carry out an assessment of their training and certification system in order to verify whether Fiji meets all the requirements of the STCW Convention and whether the appropriate measures have been taken to prevent fraud involving certificates. It was explained that the assessment would be based on the results of a fact finding inspection to be carried out by the experts of the European Maritime Safety Agency (the ‘Agency’) in Fiji.

(3)

On the basis of the results of an inspection which took place in June 2013 and taking into account a voluntary corrective action plan submitted by the Fijian authorities in September 2014 and further supplemented in December 2014, the Commission carried out an assessment of the training and certification system in Fiji.

(4)

In its assessment the Commission identified several areas that needed to be properly addressed by the Fijian authorities, including shortcomings relating to national provisions, such as missing provisions for qualifications of certain categories of instructors and insufficient or incomplete certification requirements, as well as quality management procedures.

(5)

In April 2015 the Commission provided the Fijian authorities with an assessment report that was based on the results of the inspection of June 2013 and took into account the supplemented corrective action plan.

(6)

The Fijian authorities submitted an updated corrective action plan in June 2015.

(7)

Based on all available information, the Commission concludes that the Fijian authorities, with the exception of a finding on certification requirements, have taken measures to bring the Fijian system for training and certification of seafarers in line with the requirements of the STCW Convention.

(8)

In particular, Fiji has adopted new legislation addressing the identified shortcomings relating to national provisions and has updated the quality procedures of its administration and maritime education institutions and the curricula and training programmes of its maritime education institutions.

(9)

The Commission departments have asked the Fijian authorities for clarification on the Commission's finding referred to in recital 7 related to the certification requirements. That finding does not, in any case, call into question the overall positive assessment.

(10)

The final outcome of the assessment demonstrates that Fiji complies with the requirements of the STCW Convention, while this country has taken appropriate measures to prevent fraud involving certificates.

(11)

The Member States were provided with a report on the results of the assessment.

(12)

The measure provided for in this Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,