Chemicals regulatory approaches

Green Chemistry is the utilization of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical processes. This non-regulatory approach for pollution prevention occupies a pivotal position in the management of hazardous substances and has been quite successful as evidenced, for example, in the United States by the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. ... 

Promoting Chemical Leasing based on the preventive Cleaner Production concept provides practical solutions for industry to become more efficient and at the same time reduce unnecessary hazardous chemicals consumption and protect human health and the environment. In this way, environmental and economic policy matters as well as international cooperation objectives can be addressed. In his article, T. Jakl excellently highlights Chemical Leasing and regulatory approaches in Chemical Policy. 

Chemical Leasing and Regulatory Approaches in Chemicals Policy... 

Evidently, managing uncertainty related to industrial chemicals is not an easy task. So far, the voluntary and regulatory approaches implemented around the world have not succeeded more than marginally. Implementing the core elements of the precautionary principle in EU and US legislation on industrial chemicals, as suggested and elaborated on in this article, would clearly enable better control of chemicals and, thereby, most likely lead to increased safety for human health and the environment. 

Judging from previous EU chemical risk management decision-making, the choice of control instrument, scope and detail of regulatory action proposed by a Member State depends on its national regulatory approach and administrative structure [31, 32]. This affects inclusion of different actors in decision-making... 

As a result of the number of companies operating in the chemical sector, one would expect that it is relatively easy to co-ordinate, harmonise and regulate chemicals across Sweden, but is difficult to do so in the UK. This may be true, but each national regulatory approach also differs due to historical and cultural reasons. Ultimately each approach seeks to safeguard human health and the environment while sustaining the international competitiveness of its national chemical and manufacturing industries. There are several advantages and drawbacks to each approach that depend only partly on the size and structure of the industry. 

This research lays a foundation for future work on national approaches to chemical risk management. Three contrasting national approaches emerge from the analysis of the four countries hazard as the main criterion for risk management in Sweden, technical considerations in France and Germany, and risk-benefit in the UK. A set of sub-criteria was identified as necessity to further define and differentiate possible permutations of each regulatory approach ... 

The harmonized elements of the GHS may be seen as a collection of building blocks from which to form a regulatory approach for chemical hazard communication within the workplace, for the transportation system, for those involved in chemical work-related activities, and for consumers. 

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