No L 277/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 20. 10. 84 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 15 October 1984 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to ceramic -articles  intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (84/500/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Directive 76/893/EEC of 23 November 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs ('), and in particular Article 3 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas Article 2 of Directive 76/893/EEC provides that materials and articles must not transfer their constituents to foodstuffs in quantities which could endanger human health ; Whereas Article 3 of the same Directive provides that the Council, under the procedure provided for in Article 100 of the Treaty, shall adopt by means of () OJ No L 340, 9. 12. 1976, p. 19. () O] No C 95, 28. 4. 1975, p. 41. () O] No C 263, 17. 11. 1975, p. 66. Directives special provisions applicable to certain groups of materials and articles (specific Directives) ; Whereas in most of the Member States ceramic articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs are subject to mandatory provisions for protecting human health which lay down limits for the extractable quan- tities of lead and cadmium ; Whereas these provisions vary from one Member State to another, thus creating obstacles to the establishment and functioning of the common market; Whereas these obstacles may be eliminated if the placing of ceramic articles on the Community market is made subject to uniform rules ; whereas it is there- fore necessary to harmonize the limit values and the test and analysis methods for such articles; Whereas the appropriate instrument for attaining this objective is a specific Directive within the meaning of Article 3 of Directive 76/893/EEC the general provi- sions of which also become applicable in this parti- cular case ; Whereas the adaptation to technical progress of certain checking and analysis measures provided for in the Directive is an implementing measure the adoption of which should be entrusted to the Commission in order to simplify and expedite the procedure; Whereas, in all cases where the Council grants the Commission powers to implement provisions concern- ing materials and articles intended to come into