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Europe vs. Toxics Building support for stronger legislation

This article discusses the efforts of The International Chemical Secretariat in advocating for stronger chemical control policies in Europe. It highlights Sweden's goal of achieving a non-toxic environment by 2020 through principles like precaution and substitution. The text addresses the re-registration of pesticides in Sweden, the challenges in building a new legislative framework in the EU, and the various parties influencing the decision-making process. The importance of supporting REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) for reduced risks, new markets, and improved trust is emphasized. Industry players like Electrolux and the Swedish Construction Federation are already in support of REACH. For more information, visit www.chemsec.org.

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Europe vs. Toxics Building support for stronger legislation

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  1. Europe vs. ToxicsBuilding support for stronger legislation Per Rosander, The International Chemical Secretariat

  2. The International Chemical Secretariat : serves as a forum for parties working for better chemical control monitors the development of Chemical policies in Europe and elsewhere seeks to strengthen support for progressive legislation, in particular among business actors

  3. European Environmental Agency Late lessons from early warnings The Precautionary Principle 1896-2000

  4. Sweden's generation goal A non-toxic environmentto be achieved by 2020: • The concentrations of substances that naturally occur in the environment are close to the background levels. • The levels of foreign substances in the environment are close to zero.

  5. Some tools used in Sweden for toxic use reduction: • Precautionary Principle • Substitution Principle • Chemical Products Register • Observation list, Limitations list

  6. Substitution Principle: “Person who pursue an activity or take a measure, or intend to do so, shall avoid using or selling chemical products (…) that may involve risks to human health or environment if products (…) that are less dangerous can be used instead. “ The Swedish Environmental Code, Ch. 2:6

  7. Effect of Re-registration of pesticides in Sweden: No of active substances approved:

  8. Building a new legislative framework in EU… AUTHORISATION EVALUATION REGISTRATION

  9. Building a new legislative framework in EU… SOME THREATS: AUTHORISATION Limitations re substitution Substances in articles? EVALUATION Limits to info access REGISTRATION

  10. The process to decision… TAKING DECISIONS: EU Council Parliament Commission PREPARING PLAN:

  11. Many parties seek to influence the process… NGO:s Council Parliament Commission Public Industry Non-EU countries

  12. Many parties seek to influence the process… NGO:s Council Parliament Commission Public Industry Non-EU countries

  13. Many parties seek to influence the process… Users Producers Industry ? • ”REACH is too costly” • ”will cause unemployment” • ”will cause barriers to trade”

  14. Arguments for industry to support REACH… • Reduced risks of future liabilities • New markets for new, ”Greener” products • New markets for more environmentally sound manufacturing processes • More information provided by suppliers • Improved trust among consumers, workers, investors, etc.

  15. Some industries in support of REACH: Electrolux Tetra Pak Marks & Spencer Boots SKANSKA Swedish Construction Federation Recycling Industry Association

  16. Some industries in support of REACH: • Swedish Construction Federation: • Particulary hazardous substances must be blacklisted and banned. Substitution should always be considered All data on environmental hazards connected with chemicals should be accessible to the public. • From submission to European Commission re REACH More answers on www.chemsec.org

  17. Many parties seek to influence the process… NGO:s Council Parliament Commission Public Industry Non-EU countries

  18. Building a new legislative framework… AUTHORISATION EVALUATION REGISTRATION

  19. www.chemsec.org

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