Chemicals
Chemicals are an intrinsic part of modern society and can be found in all sectors and in most products. There are more than 100,000 existing chemicals in the European market. In practice around 30,000 chemicals are currently in use and placed on the market in quantity over one tonne each year. However, 'existing chemicals' are currently not automatically subject to the same testing requirements as those placed on the market since 1981.
There is already EU legislation on 'new' chemicals and on 'existing' chemicals. This sets quite extensive testing requirements on 'new' chemicals and a procedure for carrying out risk assessments for certain 'existing' chemicals. The scheme is widely regarded as far from sufficient for the aims of protecting human health and the environment, in particular due to weaknesses in addressing 'existing chemicals' that make up the bulk of the chemical substances on the market. In response to the recognised weaknesses of current legislation, the European Commission published, in February 2001, a White Paper entitled 'Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy'. The White Paper presented a new regulatory system, called REACH, for the 'Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals'. REACH became the centre of extensive study and heated debate, although the final text has now been agreed.
IEEP tracks and advises on the development of chemical policies. Our most recent work includes:
- briefings for the Environment Committee of the European Parliament;
- regular briefings for the UK's Environment Agency;
- coverage of developments in IEEP's Manual of Environmental Policy: the EU and Britain (Chemicals has been an issue that IEEP has been tracking for over 10 years); and
- a review of institutional arrangements for chemicals management for the UK Environment Agency.
For a complete list of our reports that relate to chemicals, simply select 'Chemicals' in the quick search menu on our publications page.
For interviews, comment and articles, please contact our policy specialists Dr Marc Pallamaerts, Peter Hjerp