Article 56: General provisions

1.  A manufacturer, importer or downstream user shall not place a substance on the market for a use or use it himself if that substance is included in Annex XIV, unless:
(a) the use(s) of that substance on its own or in a ►M3  mixture ◄ or the incorporation of the substance into an article for which the substance is placed on the market or for which he uses the substance himself has been authorised in accordance with Articles 60 to 64; or
(b) the use(s) of that substance on its own or in a ►M3  mixture ◄ or the incorporation of the substance into an article for which the substance is placed on the market or for which he uses the substance himself has been exempted from the authorisation requirement in Annex XIV itself in accordance with Article 58(2); or
(c) the date referred to in Article 58(1)(c)(i) has not been reached; or
(d) the date referred to in Article 58(1)(c)(i) has been reached and he made an application 18 months before that date but a decision on the application for authorisation has not yet been taken; or
(e) in cases where the substance is placed on the market, authorisation for that use has been granted to his immediate downstream user.
2.  A downstream user may use a substance meeting the criteria set out in paragraph 1 provided that the use is in accordance with the conditions of an authorisation granted to an actor up his supply chain for that use.
3.  Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the use of substances in scientific research and development. Annex XIV shall specify if paragraphs 1 and 2 apply to product and process orientated research and development as well as the maximum quantity exempted.
4.  Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the following uses of substances:
(a) uses in plant protection products within the scope of Directive 91/414/EEC;
(b) uses in biocidal products within the scope of Directive 98/8/EC;
(c) use as motor fuels covered by Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels ( 22 );
(d) uses as fuel in mobile or fixed combustion plants of mineral oil products and use as fuels in closed systems.
5.  In the case of substances that are subject to authorisation only because they meet the criteria in Article 57(a), (b) or (c) or because they are identified in accordance with Article 57(f) only because of hazards to human health, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply to the following uses:
(a) uses in cosmetic products within the scope of Directive 76/768/EEC;
(b) uses in food contact materials within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004.

6.  Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the use of substances when they are present in ►M3  mixtures ◄ :

(a) for substances referred to in Article 57(d), (e) and (f), below a concentration limit of 0,1  % weight by weight (w/w);
(b) for all other substances, below the values specified in Article 11(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 which result in the classification of the mixture as hazardous.