New European Chemicals Strategy Gian Marco Currado Chemicals
- Slides: 8
New European Chemicals Strategy Gian Marco Currado Chemicals & GM Policy Division
Contents • Background • UK Government view
Why do we need a new system? • 30, 000 Chemicals on the market produced over 1 tonne • Very limited information on risks to human health and the environment • Existing regime slow to produce results • Increasing public concern • Lack of confidence in chemical industry
Overarching aims • Single efficient and coherent regulatory framework • Industry to take a leading role • Deadlines to speed up the process • Promotion of innovation and competitiveness • Increased transparency and information
• Registration – substances exceeding a production volume of 1 tonne (around 30, 000) • Evaluation – substances exceeding a production volume of 100 tonnes (around 5, 000) • Authorisation – substances of highest concern i. e. CMRs, PBTs and v. Pv. Bs • Substances of equivalent concern (e. g. endocrine disrupters (EDCs)
UK Government View · UK Government Position Statement published December 2002 · Response to Commission consultation July 2003 · http: //www. defra. gov. uk/environment/chemicals · Three over-arching objectives: · Fast, efficient and workable process · Minimum animal testing · Chemical industry competitiveness
UK Government View • Key Outcomes: • Protection of human health and the environment • Speed of operation • Innovation and the competitiveness of the chemical industry • Provision of Information
UK Government View • Key Constraints: • Minimisation of animal testing • WTO and other international commitments • Scope of the system • Role of downstream user
