24.4.98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 123/1 I (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DIRECTIVE 98/8/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 February 1998 concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (3) in the light of the joint text approved on 16 December 1997 by the Conciliation Committee, (1) Whereas, in their resolution of 1 February 1993 on a Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development (4), the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, approved the genera...