1.The Commission, assisted by the Agency, and the Member States shall, as appropriate, facilitate the provision of scientific, technical, economic and legal information concerning chemicals subject to this Regulation, including toxicological, ecotoxicological and safety information.
The Commission, with the support of the Member States and the Agency as necessary, shall, as appropriate, ensure the following:
(a)the provision of publicly available information concerning regulatory actions relevant to the objectives of the Convention;
(b)the provision of information for Parties and other countries directly or through the Secretariat concerning those actions which substantially restrict one or more uses of a chemical.
2.The Commission, the Member States and the Agency shall protect any confidential information received from a Party or other country as mutually agreed.
3.As regards the transmission of information under this Regulation, and without prejudice to Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information(1), the following information at least shall not be regarded as confidential:
(a)the information specified in Annex II and Annex IV;
(b)the information contained in safety data sheets referred to in Article 17(3);
(c)the expiry date of a chemical;
(d)the production date of a chemical;
(e)information concerning precautionary measures, including hazard classification, the nature of the risk and the relevant safety advice;
(f)the summary results of toxicological and ecotoxicological tests;
(g)information concerning handling packaging after chemicals have been removed.
4.A compilation of the information transmitted shall be prepared every two years by the Agency.