Bättre EU-regler för en giftfri miljö - Kemikalieinspektionen

substances which can cause cancer or genetic damage or adversely affect reproduction (CMR
substances) and substances which persist in the environment and accumulate in living
organisms (PB substances). The view that we need to avoid these substances has found
acceptance in Sweden and is increasingly reflected also in EU rules, e.g. REACH and rules
governing pesticides, but has been less pervasive in other areas. The substitution principle,
that hazardous substances, as far as possible, are to be replaced by safer alternatives, is also
having an ever-broader impact on EU rules governing chemicals.
Environmental management programmes, strategies and reviews (Chapter 3.4,
Chapter10)
Over the last ten years almost all the existing rules in the EU about chemical products have
been renewed. This applies both to chemicals for general use (REACH and CLP) and to
chemicals for special uses (pesticides, foods, cosmetics, medicinal products) and chemicals in
articles (electronics, toys etc.). Despite these reforms, the rules are constantly being
developed. The legal instruments often contain provisions which state that certain matters are
to be reviewed at a particular time and that the Commission is to draw up reports as a basis
for reviews. Certain issues (e.g. nanomaterials) are dealt with by specific strategies where
developments in the area are to be reported by the Commission. A large number of issues
about chemicals will therefore appear on the political agenda in Council and the European
Parliament over the next few years.
Moreover, work is being done in the EU regarding overall strategies which are very important
for policy development in the longer term. The Commission is due to produce a proposal for a
new environmental management programme for the EU. The earlier programmes have been
of great importance for the development of the rules on chemicals. The Commission’s most
important political initiative involving the chemicals sector is the resource efficiency
improvement strategy, the roadmap for a resource-efficient Europe. The roadmap has a
long-term aim but contains a number of interim targets (milestones) to be achieved by 2020.
The life-cycle perspective on which the roadmap is based includes limiting the use of
hazardous substances and developing a green chemistry together with an extended recycling
of waste.
We consider that the regulatory reviews that take place in the next few years must be
exploited by Sweden to submit proposals for improvements. We identify a number of such
occasions in the report. Moreover, certain general development needs must be stressed in
connection with the implementation of the roadmap for a resource-efficient Europe and the
new environmental management programme. We propose that the following overarching
issues should be addressed in such contexts:
• Extending the legislation governing medicinal products and GMP requirements to deal
with environmental aspects of medicinal products (chapter 6.3).
• Introducing restrictions and information requirements regarding chemicals in textiles
(chapter 7.6).
• Taking the initiative for a strategy for better environmental information (chapter 7.8)
• Taking the initiative for a strategy in the EU for resource-efficient material cycles free
from hazardous substances (chapter 8.4)
• Enhancing enforcement in the EU (chapter 8.2)
• Enhancing environmental monitoring at EU level (chapter 8.10)
• Analysing at EU level of the interaction between the Water Framework Directive and
other relevant legislation chapter 8.11)
• New EU strategy for fluorinated substances (chapter 9.4).
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