Socio-economic analysis

Socio-economic analysis Does the product serve a useful/ necessary social function ... 

This means the obligation to carry out an extensive, quantitative risk evaluation and socio-economic analysis of the alternatives being considered by the authorities with, at the same time, a legally and systematically founded lack of information. 

The RAC as well as the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) of the ECHA prepare expert opinions on these applications. Finally, the European Commission grants the respective authorizations. 

ECHA (2011) Guidance on the preparation of socio-economic analysis as part of an application for authorisation. Version 1. ECHA-11-G-02-EN... 

ECHA (2008) Guidance on socio-economic analysis--restrictions. http //echa.europa.eu/... 

HYWAYS in-depth techno-socio-economic analysis of hydrogen production options. 

VI. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITIES WHERE MORAMA IS FOUND... 

Member States or the Commission (via the Agency) can propose that the manufacture or use of specific substances is restricted, provided that a risk assessment has shown that the substances pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. The risk assessment and the proposed restrictions must be considered within a set time period by a committee within the European Chemicals Agency (Article 67). The proposed restrictions are subject to a socio-economic analysis, considered by another committee within the Agency, and the opinion of both committees forwarded to the Commission. 

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). 

Socio-economic analysis assumes that a new regulatory regime such as REACH is something that gives rise to economic costs and benefits, as a cause has effects. This, I think, is its fundamental error. A regulatory regime such as REACH is not a cause that can increase or decrease overall economic activity or profitability (though it may do this locally, for particular businesses, if they are... 

Once included in Annex XIV, the manufacturers, importers, and/or downstream users of the affected substance must request authorisation. The application is directly submitted to ECHA, which forwards the dossier to its Committee for Risk Assessment (CRA) and its Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (CSEA) to produce a draft opinion within 10 months of submission. Applicants and interested third parties receive an opportunity to comment on the draft, whereafter the now finalised opinion is forwarded to the Commission, the Member States, and the applicant. The Commission then decides on the authorisation request following the regulatory committee procedure,27 which gives the Council veto power, but only in the rare instances where it can muster a qualified majority against the Commission measure.28... 

Article 56). Articles containing an Annex XIV substance may be imported to the EU without authorisation.16 Authorisation is to be granted by the Commission on a case-by-case basis for a specified period and under conditions subject to review, if the risks to health and the environment arising from the listed intrinsic properties of a substance are adequately controlled (Article 60, as defined in Annex I). However, the adequate control route is closed for a SVHC that has the properties PBT or vPvB or that is a CMR for which a threshold cannot be determined (Article 60). For such substances, or when control is not adequate, authorisation requires that socioeconomic benefits outweigh risks and that there are no substitutes available (Article 64). These aspects must be considered by a Committee for Risk Assessment and a Committee for Socioeconomic Analysis before the Commission can take a decision on an application, which must include a socio-economic analysis according to 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. 

In general, the scope and detail of a risk assessment determines the appropriateness of a given risk management measure (Section 2.3). Additional scientific study such as lifecycle assessment (LCA) can inform managers of the appropriateness of one regulatory measure compared with another in terms of the overall effects on health and the environment (Section 2.3). A socio-economic analysis of the effects of a regulatory measure can be carried out. Ultimately, the tolerability of a risk, which depends on perceived risks and benefits of a given risky chemical or activity, also influences the appropriateness of a risk reduction measure. 

A technical-based approach follows the view that risks should be reduced to achieve an adequate level of safety, but does not require a socio-economic analysis of alternative risk management options. Standards are set according to available technology to ensure that certain margins of safety are not exceeded. A risk-benefit approach bases decisions on the results of socio-economic and stakeholder consultation. 

Streamline socio-economic analysis by targeting specific sectors or limiting its application to the national level Develop benchmarking schemes for environmental standard-setting at the EU level Incorporate mutagens and reprotoxins into statistical studies... 

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... 

Multi-criterion analysis is a decision-making tool for qualitative weighting of aggregated impact assessment indicators. Further information is available in the OECD Technical Guidance Document on the use of Socio-economic Analysis in Chemical Risk Management Decision-Making [510]. 

Technical Guidance Document on the use of Socio-economic Analysis in Chemical Risk Management Decision Making,... 

Practicality The practicality of inclusion of a substance under the authorisation process will be subject to the results of a socio-economic analysis. 

SEA Socio-economic analysis would follow the REACH Annex XVI procedure. 

During socio-economic analysis of the restriction, companies would be able to provide evidence of use of personal protective equipment (PPE), existing licensing or training schemes, or... 

SEA Socio-economic analysis would only be conducted at the national level for selecting cost-effective strategies to meet targets, allowing Member States to decide on the level of data necessary to set or justify any decision. 

Socio-economic analysis Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Swedish National Food Administration Small and medium-sized enterprise(s)... 

Guidance for Conducting Retrospective Studies on Socio-economic Analysis (1999). 

Rocard, Ph. and Smets, H. (1992) A socio-economic analysis of controls onlanduse around hazardous installations. Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, 65, 468-84. 

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