The proposal was amended as follows:

Text proposed by the Commission(1)   Amendments (Amendment 1) Recital 7    (7) For common fabrics, the test methods to be used in demonstrating conformity with the rules set out in this Directive are established in the Annex.    (7) For common fabrics, the test methods to be used in demonstrating conformity with the rules set out in this Directive are established in the Annex. The Commission will monitor very carefully the development of further test methods and will adjust the annex to this Directive as soon as even more reliable test methods are available. (Amendment 6) Recital 7a (new) (7a)Since an individual test of handmade oriental carpets would destroy them and the risk to health from oriental carpets is probably not particularly great, such carpets are temporarily exempted from the provisions of this Directive. However, in order to provide consumers and workers with better protection, all oriental carpets manufactured from 1 January 2006 onwards should be included. In the meantime it would be desirable if carpet importers were to develop a voluntary quality mark for labelling those carpets for which the suppliers can already provide guarantees that they have been produced without using azocolourants. (Amendment 3) ANNEX Annex I (43) (Directive 76/769/EEC )    1. Azodyes that may release, by reductive cleavage of one or more azo groups, one or more of the aromatic amines listed in Appendix, in concentrations above 30 ppm in the finished articles, according to the testing method specified in Appendix, May not be used in textile and leather articles which have the potential of coming into direct and prolonged contact with the human skin or oral cavity, such as :    1. Azodyes that may release, by reductive cleavage of one or more azo groups, one or more of the aromatic amines listed in Appendix, in concentrations above 30 ppm in the finished articles, according to the testing method specified in Appendix, may not be used in the following articles which have the potential of coming into direct and prolonged contact with the human skin or oral cavity:    - clothing, bedding, towels, hairpieces, wigs, hats, nappies and other sanitary items,    - clothing, bedding, towels, hairpieces, wigs, hats, nappies and other sanitary items, sleeping bags,    - footwear, gloves, wristwatch straps, handbags, purses/wallets, briefcases, chair covers,    - footwear, gloves, wristwatch straps, handbags, purses/wallets, briefcases, chair covers, purses worn round the neck,    - textile or leather toys and toys which include textile or leather garments ,    - toys,    - carpets.    - carpets (except for handmade oriental carpets) .    2. Furthermore, the textile and leather articles referred to in point 1 above may not be placed on the market unless they conform to the requirements set out in that point.”    2. Furthermore, the articles referred to in point 1 above may not be placed on the market unless they conform to the requirements set out in that point.” (Amendment 4) ANNEX Annex I, Appendix (A) (21a and 21b) (new) (Directive 76/769/EEC ) CAS Substances 21a 95-68-1 2,4 Xylidine 21b 87-62-7 2,6 Xylidine (Amendment 5) ANNEX Annex I, Appendix (B) (Method) (3) (Directive 76/769/EEC )    3. The presence of the amines listed in section A above are to be tested according to the German official method of analysis referred to as “Untersuchung von Bedarfsgegenständen - Nachweis bestimmter Azofarbstoffe in Leder” published in “Amtliche Sammlung von Untersuchungsverfahren nach § 35 des Lebensmittel- und Bedarfsgegenständegesetzes, Gliederungsnummer B 82.02-3, März 1997.”    3. The presence of the amines listed in section A above is to be tested, pending the conclusion of the work of Technical Committee 289 on Leather, either according to the Italian method UNI A90.00.028.0 of 1998 or according to the German official method of analysis referred to as “Untersuchung von Bedarfsgegenständen - Nachweis bestimmter Azofarbstoffe in Leder” published in “Amtliche Sammlung von Untersuchungsverfahren nach § 35 des Lebensmittel- und Bedarfsgegenständegesetzes, Gliederungsnummer B 82.02-3, März 1997.”

(1) OJ C 89 E, 28.3.2000, p. 67.

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(1999) 620 (1) ),

-  having regard to Article 251(2) and Article 95 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C5-0312/1999 ),

-  having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

-  having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (A5-0168/2000 ),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Asks to be consulted again should the Commission intend to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

(1) OJ C 89 E, 28.3.2000, p. 67.