Chemicals Regulation – Global Challenges

Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2010

Lena PereniusExecutive Director

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Chemical Regulation- Global Challenges

The Global Challenge: To ensure that, by the year 2020, chemicals are

produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.2002 Johannesburg World Summit on

Sustainable Development SAICM is the strategy and process to achieve

that goal

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Opportunities and Challenges

To improve global regulatory systemsMany regulatory developments around the

world To increase Regulatory Convergence

facilitating trade and a level playing field

To introduce Smart RegulationsDelivering desired results in the least

burdensome wayAllowing industry to innovate and to compete

fairly and effectively

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Trends in Regulatory Developments

Implement Global Harmonised System for classification and labelling,

Modernise and improve existing chemicals legislation

Introduce a regulatory system for chemicals

EU: REACH is Europe's contribution to SAICM under implementation – gaining experience review in 2010

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What’s new in REACH?

Burden of proof/responsibilityNo difference new/existing substancesObligation to work together and share dataNew obligations on downstream users

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Is REACH impacting the global regulatory developments?

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Possible barriers for REACH elements

Burden of proof/responsibility Societal values and capacity

Convergence new/existing substancesExisting approach (if any)

Data sharingConfidentiality, workability

AuthorisationBureaucracy, cost

REACH is comprehensive and ambitious –Is it the “smartest”?

Complex and costly with workability issues still to be solved

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Cooperation contributing to regulatory convergence

Making it happenUN, OECD, Governments, Industry

Global Chemicals Industry: Responsible Care Global Charter

• Product Stewardship objective to “Enhance the management of chemical products worldwide”

Global Product StrategyGlobal Product StrategyIndustry’s contribution to SAICM and convergence

Risk characterization and risk management measures for chemicals in commerce until the year 2018

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ICCA visionGlobal Product Strategy (GPS)

By 2020, through a combination of voluntary and regulatory initiatives, we will have:

Established a base-set of hazard and exposure information adequate to conduct safety assessments for chemicals in commerce

Provided global capacity to implement best assessment practices and management procedures, especially in developing countries

Shared relevant product information with co-producers, governments and the public

Worked across the value chain so suppliers and customers can effectively evaluate the risks and enhance their performance

Made information on chemicals publicly available (GPS IT-portal via http://www.icca-chem.org/.)

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Global Product Strategy (GPS) –Industry’s global contribution to

SAICM

Global Product Strategy (GPS)

Globally consistent approach that accommodates national, historical, cultural and regulatory differences

Voluntary initiatives• Responsible Care• ICCA HPV• Base Set of Information• OECD / SIDS• LRI• etc.

Regulatory initiatives• EU REACH• US TSCA• US ChAMP• Canadian CMP• Japan CSRs• GHS• etc.

Cooperation• UNEP• UNIDO• OECD• NGOs• ICCA internal• etc..

Back-up slides

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Benefits of GPS implementation

Even level playing field of the global conditions of competition (through harmonization of global product safety standards)

Improvement of global chemicals management Open access to relevant product safety information for

co-producers, governments and the public Joint information base for chemicals supports

classification and labeling under GHS Achieving a balance between regulation and voluntary

industry commitments. The goal is a single global standard in Product Safety

Global harmonization of chemicals management systems will eventually help to reduce trade barriers.

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Chemical Regulation- Global Challenges

Agenda Johannesburg declaration – SAICM Opportunities and Challenges for Regulatory

Convergence Trends in Regulation considering the main

elements of REACH Regulatory cooperation

Governments, OECD, industry Industry’s contribution to SAICM and

convergence: GPS