Regulation socio-economic analysis

Under European chemicals legislation, proposals to restrict the production or use of chemicals, or to authorize the use of a chemical subject to the authorization procedures of REACH, are subject to a socio-economic analysis. The socio-economic analysis should include the following consideration of the commercial impacts on manufacturers, importers and downstream users the impacts on consumers the social impacts, such as effects on job security and employment the availability, suitability, technical and economic feasibility of alternative substances and/or technologies implications for trade, competition and economic development and the benefits for human health and the environment and the economic and social benefits of restrictions or refusal of authorizations (Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, Annex XVI). 

This book covers the whole range of uses of chemicals within the chemical industry and downstream manufacturing sectors, as well as all their content in consumer products. Certain substances covered by specific product regulation that requires particular risk assessment and socio-economic analysis must be excluded from the scope of the research (Table 1.1). For instance, pesticides and pharmaceuticals cannot be regulated like most products produced by the chemical industry. A detailed explanation of the excluded substances is presented in Appendix 1.2 and a description of the chemical industry business activities is provided in Appendix 1.3. 

To protect occupational and consumer health from DCM, Germany set technical standards on DCM sales. National measures would not have been practical for regulating the trade and marketing of DCM in the EU. Action to restrict the marketing of dangerous substances to protect human health or the environment must comply with Article 95 of the EC Treaty relating to the internal market. Objecting to immediate adoption of EU standards to ensure adequate risk reduction, the UK - a major producer of DCM - declared that it was necessary to conduct full risk assessments of alternative substances, as well as a detailed socio-economic analysis of... 

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