Regulation of chemicals

The regulation of chemicals is the legislative intent of a variety of national laws or international initiatives such as agreements, strategies or conventions. These international initiatives define the policy of further regulations to be implemented locally as well as exposure or emission limits. Often, regulatory agencies oversee the enforcement of these laws.

International initiatives

Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) - ^[1]. This initiative was adopted at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM), which took place from 4–6 February 2006 in Dubai gathering Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. It defines a policy framework to foster the sound worldwide management of chemicals. This initiative covers risk assessments of chemicals and harmonized labeling up to tackling obsolete and stockpiled products. Are included provisions for national centres aimed at helping in the developing world, train staff in chemical safety as well as dealing with spills and accidents. SAICM is a voluntary agreement. A second International Conference on Chemicals Management -ICCM2- held in May 2009 in Geneva took place in order to enhance synergies and cost effectiveness and to promote SAICM’s multi-sectorial nature.

Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)[^[2]] The “Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals” (GHS) proposes harmonised hazard communication elements, including labels and safety data sheets. It was adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in 2002. This system aims to ensure a better protection of human health and the environment during the handling of chemicals, including their transport and use. The classification of chemicals is done based on their hazard. This harmonisation will facilitate trade when implemented entirely.

Stockholm Convention [1]- The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants(POPs). It entered into force, on 17 May 2004, and over 150 countries signed the Convention. In May 2009, nine new chemicals are proposed for listing which then contained 12 substances.

Rotterdam Convention ^[3] - The objectives of the Rotterdam Convention are: • to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm; • to contribute to the environmentally sound use of those hazardous chemicals, by facilitating information exchange about their characteristics, by providing for a national decision-making process on their import and export and by disseminating these decisions to Parties. The text of the Convention was adopted on 10 September 1998 by a Conference in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Convention entered into force on 24 February 2004. The Convention creates legally binding obligations for the implementation of the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure.

Basel Convention ^[4] The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is a global environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes. It came into force in 1992. The Convention has 172 Parties and aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, management, transboundary movements and disposal of hazardous and other wastes.

Montreal Protocal^[5],^[6] The Montreal Protocol was a globally coordinated regulatory action that sought to regulate ozone depleting chemicals. 191 countries have ratified the treaty.

Regional regulations

USA^[7]: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the US has announced that the chemicals management laws will be strengthened. It will initiate a comprehensive approach to enhance the current chemicals management program including: New Regulatory Risk Management Actions Development of Chemical Action Plans, which will target the risk management efforts on chemicals of concern Requiring Information Needed to Understand Chemical Risks Increasing Public Access to Information About Chemicals Engaging Stakeholders in Prioritizing Chemicals for Future Risk Management Action.
Chemicals are regulated under various laws including the Toxic Substances Control Act. In 2010, Congress was considering a new law entitled the Safe Chemicals Act.^[8]

EU: Chemicals in Europe are managed by the REACH^[9][10] (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) and the CLP^[11] (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) regulations. Specific regulations exist for specific families of products such as Fertilisers, Detergents, Explosives, Pyrotechnic Articles, Drug Precursors.^[12]

See also

• Regulation of science
• Regulation of nanotechnology
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
• Material safety data sheet
• Chemophobia
• Environmental Persistent Pharmaceutical Pollutant EPPP

References

1. ^ http://www.saicm.org
2. ^ http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_welcome_e.html
3. ^ http://www.pic.int
4. ^ http://www.basel.int/
5. ^ http://ozone.unep.org/Publications/MP_Handbook/index.shtml
6. ^ http://ozone.unep.org/
7. ^ http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/enhanchems.html
8. ^ Congress proposes toxic chemical regulation reforms. Royal Society of Chemistry.
9. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm
10. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/index_en.htm
11. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/classification/index_en.htm
12. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/specific-chemicals/index_en.htm