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ECJ Information brochures
Published in 2007, this series of eight booklets on the three courts which comprise the European Court of Justice is clearly not new, but is definitely useful. There’s a general Q&A brochure, one on the history and symbols of the Court, five devoted to various aspects of the courts, and one highlighting significant case law. Well worth a look.

The latest question sent to Eric concerned a request for ‘a 2005 Directive that concerned allergic reactions to substances in cement such as chromium’, which resulted in a fruitless EUR-Lex search for anything relevant in 2005. Eric’s response was:

This is a useful reminder that every Directive has at least two significant dates attached: the one when it was adopted, and the deadline for implementation by the Member States. Leaving the date aside, a search for cement WITH allerg* (to cover the possibility of both allergies and allergic) in EUR-Lex produces 18 hits using the title and text option.

By choosing ‘Refine’, then ‘Type of document’, then ‘Directive’ the possibilities are reduced to five, one of which mentions cement in the title: Directive 2003/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2003 amending for the 26th time Council Directive 76/769/EEC relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (nonylphenol, nonylphenol ethoxylate and cement).

Is this the correct item? A quick check reveals that not only does it concern allergic reactions to chromium VI (it is in fact known as the Chromium VI Directive), but it had to be implemented in the Member States by 17 January 2005.