1. Paint strippers containing dichloromethane in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.1 % by weight shall not be:

(a) placed on the market for the first time for supply to the general public or to professionals after 6 December 2010;

(b) placed on the market for supply to the general public or to professionals after 6 December 2011;

(c) used by professionals after 6 June 2012.

For the purposes of this entry:

(i) ‘professional’ means any natural or legal person, including workers and self-employed workers undertaking paint stripping in the course of their professional activity outside an industrial installation;

(ii) ‘industrial installation’ means a facility used for paint stripping activities.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the competent appropriate authority may, after having consulted the other appropriate authorities, allow for certain activities the use, by specifically trained professionals, of paint strippers containing dichloromethane and may allow the placing on the market of such paint strippers for supply to those professionals. 

A derogation shall define appropriate provisions for the protection of the health and safety of those professionals using paint strippers containing dichloromethane.

Those provisions shall include a requirement that a professional shall hold a certificate, or provide other documentary evidence to that effect, so as to demonstrate proper training and competence to safely use paint strippers containing dichloromethane.

3. The training referred to in paragraph 2 shall cover as a minimum:

(a) awareness, evaluation and management of risks to health, including information on existing substitutes or processes, which under their conditions of use are less hazardous to the health and safety of workers;

(b) use of adequate ventilation;

(c) use of appropriate personal protective equipment that complies with Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

Employers and self-employed workers shall preferably replace dichloromethane with a chemical agent or process which, under its conditions of use, presents no risk, or a lower risk, to the health and safety of workers.

Professional shall apply all relevant safety measures in practice, including the use of personal protective equipment.

4. Without prejudice to other legislation on workers protection, paint strippers containing dichloromethane in concentrations equal to or greater than 0.1 % by weight may be used in industrial installations only if the following minimum conditions are met:

(a) effective ventilation in all processing areas, in particular for the wet processing and the drying of stripped articles: local exhaust ventilation at strip tanks supplemented by forced ventilation in those areas, so as to minimise exposure and to ensure compliance, where technically feasible, with relevant occupational exposure limits;

(b) measures to minimise evaporation from strip tanks comprising: lids for covering strip tanks except during loading and unloading; suitable loading and unloading arrangements for strip tanks; and wash tanks with water or brine to remove excess solvent after unloading;

(c) measures for the safe handling of dichloromethane in strip tanks comprising: pumps and pipework for transferring paint stripper to and from strip tanks; and suitable arrangements for safe cleaning of tanks and removal of sludge;

(d) personal protective equipment that complies with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 comprising: suitable protective gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing; and appropriate respiratory protective equipment where compliance with relevant occupational exposure limits cannot be otherwise achieved;

(e) adequate information, instruction and training for operators in the use of such equipment.

5. Without prejudice to other legislation concerning the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, by 6 December 2011 paint strippers containing dichloromethane in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.1 % by weight shall be visibly, legibly and indelibly marked as follows:

‘Restricted to industrial use and to approved professionals — verify where use is allowed.’