XN000022-1996-02-07 — Page 10

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At the preliminary hearing, the Tribunal will announce its terms of reference and procedures for this inquiry, state its duties and powers, receive applications for representation and set a date for the main hearings.

The hearing will start at 10 am at Room 702, Peregrine Tower, Lippo Centre, 89 Queensway, Hong Kong.

End

Harmless azocolours certification scheme announced

The Industry Department announced the launching of a certification scheme commencing today (Wednesday) on harmless azocolours to help manufacturers comply with a new German regulation banning the importation of consumer goods containing certain harmful or carcinogenic substances, namely azocolours which can split into any of the 20 banned amines.

The regulation will take effect from April 1, 1996.

The Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has been commissioned by the Industry Department to provide certification certifying dyestuffs used in a particular dye or printed lot of fabric or garment does not contain the banned amines.

Explaining the procedures involved in the scheme at a press conference, the Deputy Director-General of Industry, Mr Dominic Law said: "Manufacturers are to submit the list of dyestuffs they use to ITC whose experts will check whether the dyestuffs are included in the Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS) list and certify accordingly.

"The certification service will be provided free of charge to local manufacturers and traders."

Mr Law said the Industry Department, on the advice of the Textiles and Clothing Committee (TCC) of the Industry and Technology Development Council, had earlier commissioned the ITC to establish the VRS, with the aim to compile a list of dyestuffs which are free of those harmful amines specified by the German Government.

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