Chemicals in Products– Challenges and approaches

© Swedish Chemicals Agency, 2016 Order No. 511 184 Order information: Telefax +46 8 50 59 33 99, Phone +46 8 50 59 33 00, e-mail kemi@cm.se

Illustrations by Maja Modén

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Summary•Wearesurroundedbyproducts,athomeandatwork.Thenumberofproductsisincreasingeveryyearandthisgrowthmeansuseoflargervolumesofchemicals.

•Today’sproductsaremorecomplexthantheyusedtobe.Theycontainmanycomponents,materialsandchemicals.Chemicalsareusedinthemanufacturingofmaterialssuchasplasticsandsyntheticfibres,andvariouschemicalsareaddedtothesematerialstogivethemthefunctionalityandappearancethatwedesire.

• Sincechemicalsarepresentinalmostallproducts,theflowofmate-rialsinsocietyisalsoaflowofchemicals.Themarketforproductsisglobal.Productsareproducedinonepartoftheworld,thentrans-ported,usedandturnedintowaste–oftenonothercontinents.

•Welackinformationonpropertiesofmanychemicalsandonthehazardsassociatedwiththese.Weneedtoimprovethisinformation.

•Thereisageneralneedforimprovedcommunicationbetweenactorsinaproduct’slifecycle.Producersandretailersneedinformationonchemicalsinproductstobeabletocomplywithapplicablelegisla-tionandtomakeinformedchoices.

• Informationonchemicalsinproductsduringtheirentirelifecyclewouldenabletherecyclingofmorematerialandensuregreatersafetywhenitisreusedinotherproducts,whichiskeytoachievingresourceefficiencyandacirculareconomy.

• Inordertoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment,useofthemosthazardouschemicalsinproductsneedstobeavoided.

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ChallengesWe are surrounded by products and chemicalsWearesurroundedbychemicalsinvariousforms,athomeandatwork.Theyareanintegralpartofourdailylives.Thereishardlyanyindustrywherechemicalsarenotused,andtheyareusedinawidevarietyofproductsandprocesses.Thenumberofproductsisincreasingeveryyear,andsoarethevolumesofchemicalsubstancesandmixtures.

Chemicalsareusedinthemanufactureofproductsandmanyofthemarestillpresentwhentheproductsareplacedonthemarket.Hazardoussubstancesintheproductsmayposehealthrisksforthoseproducingtheproducts,thoseusingtheproductsandthoseworkinginwastehandlingandmaterialrecycling.Hazardoussubstancesmayalsobespreadintotheenvironmentduringproduction,use,wastehandlingandmaterialrecycling.

The use of chemicals todaySociety’suseofresourcesisgrowingrapidly.Duringthe1900stheextractionofmaterialresourcesintheworldincreasedapproximatelythirty-fivetimesover.TodayeveryEUcitizenconsumesonaverageabout16tonsofmaterialperyear,andthrowsaway6tonnesperyear.1

Chemicalproductionandthechemicalindustryhavegrownsubstantiallyoverthepastfiftyyears.From1950to2000,theannualworldproductionofchemicalsubstancesincreasedfromabout7milliontonsperyeartoabout400milliontonsperyear.Thisisafifty-seven-foldincrease.2

1RoadmaptoaResourceEfficientEurope,COM(2011)571final2Chemicalindustryfromaneconomicperspective–developmenttrendsintheworld,theEUandSweden2010.SwedishChemicalsAgency,Report5/10.

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Simplfied illustration of the product life cycle, showing chemicals and products flows.

Anexactfigureonthehugenumberofsubstancesontheglobalmarketisnotavailable,butmorethan143,000chemicalsubstancesarepre-registeredundertheEUChemicalsRegulationREACH.Sofarapproximately13,400substancesexceedingvolumesof100tons/yearhavebeenregisteredasbeingplacedontheEUmarket.3

3ECHAwebsite,October2015.

Chemical Manufacturing

Raw Material Processing

Material & Component Manufacturing

Material Recycling of Products

Incineration

Design & Manufacturing of new Products

Sales/ Purchasing of Products

Use of Products

Recollection & Sorting of used ProductsDeposition

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Hazardous substances in products

Today’sproductsaremorecomplexthantheyusedtobeandchemicalsareusedfornumerousreasons.Chemicalsareusedinthemanufacturingofmaterials,suchasplasticsandsyntheticfibres,somechemicalsareaddedtogivematerialsandproductsspecificfunctionsorfeatures,suchassubstancesmakingsurfaceswater-repellent,plasticssofteners,flame-retardantsordyesgivingthematerialadesirableappearance.Productscanalsobecoatedwithpaintsandvarnishes.Theymayalsocontainresiduesofsubstancesusedinthemanufacturingprocessbutwhichnolongerhavearoletoplay,suchasforexamplelubricatingoils.Thismeansthatchemicalsarefoundinalmostallproductsandeventuallyinthewastewhentheproductsarescrapped.

Hazardoussubstancesareusedinmanymaterialsandcancauseseriouseffectsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment;forexample,substanceswhicharecarcinogenic,endocrinedisrupting,toxictoreproductionorpersistentintheenvironment.Thediffuseexposuretohazardoussubstancesintoys,textiles,kitchenwareetc.canbeharmfultohumanhealthandtheenvironment.Childrenandyoungpeopleareoftenparticularlysensitive.Andinthecaseofsomehazardoussubstancesevenverysmallcontentsandlimitedexposurecancauseseverehealthandenvironmentaleffects.

Notallsubstancesarehazardousandmanyarepresentonlyinsosmallquantitiesthattheyarenotlikelytoaffecthumanhealthortheenvironment.Butformanychemicalswedonotactuallyknowiftheyposeanyrisks,asthereisaconsiderablelackofknowledgeaboutpropertiesandthehazardsassociatedwithchemicals,andthereisevenlessknowledgeaboutthecombinedorsocalledcocktaileffectofallthesesubstances.Weareexposedtoahugemixofmanydifferentman-madeandalsonaturallyoccurringsubstances.Experienceshowsthatproblemscanbediscoveredlongafterasubstancehasbeenplacedonthemarketandiswidespreadinmanyproducts.

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Example: An office chair – it contains many components, materials and chemicals.

WOOD- paint- varnish

PLASTIC- chemical additives

METAL- chromium surface coating

FOAM PLASTIC- residues of blowing agents (CFC)

TEXTILE- flame retardant

RUBBER- chemical additives

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Current situationGaps in information exchange

Todaythereisalackofinformationconcerningwhichhazardoussubstancescanbefoundinproductsandthereforealsoinend-of-lifeproducts.Theinformationavailableonchemicalscontentisrarelypassedonfrommanufacturersandimporterstothebrandownersandusers,andevenmorerarelytowastemanagersandrecyclingservices.

Thelackofinformationonchemicalsinaproduct’slifecyclemakesitdifficulttoreusematerialsfromproductsinasafeway.AninterviewstudyconductedinSwedenshowsthatcompaniesfacedifficultiesinfindingrecycledmaterialwhichmeetstheirqualityrequirements.44

Recycling of hazardous substances

Whilerecyclingisnecessaryandontheincrease,thereisariskthathazardoussubstancesarere-introducedintoproductlifecyclesifrecycledmaterialsareusedwithoutreflectionontheirchemicalcontent.Hazardouschemicalsmayeventuallyendupinproductswheretheyshouldnotbeandtherebycausingpossibleharm.Thiscanpotentiallyalsoweakenthemarketforrecycledmaterial,ifthereiscauseforconsumerstoregardproductsmadefromrecycledmaterialsasbeingalesssafechoice.

4 MaterialRecyclingwithoutHazardousSubstances–Experiencesandfutureoutlookoftenmanufacturersofconsumerproducts,PM14/12,SwedishChemicalsAgency.

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A common situation where there is insufficient information about the quality of the recycled material and the presence of chemicals in it. As a consequence, it is difficult for designers and producers to choose recycled materials.

Information on chemicals content in articles is rarely passed on from manufacturers and importers to the brand owners and users.

Chemical Manufacturers

Formulators/Materials Manufacturers

Component Manufacturers

Brand Owners

Loss of Information

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Examples of hazardous substances found where they should not be

Brominatedflame-retardants,bannedinternationallyasPersistentOrganicPollutants(POPs),weredetectedinthermocupsandkitchenutensilsontheEuropeanmarketduetotheuseofrecycledplastic.5

InspectorsinSwedenoftenfindthefollowinghazardoussubstances6:

•Phthalates(forexample,DEHP)inarticlessuchastoysmadeofsoftPVCplastic

•Short-chainedchlorinatedcompounds(SCCP)inarticlesmadeofsoftplastic(PVC)

•Leadinthesolderinelectricalarticles•Arylaminesfromazodyesintextileandleatherarticles•CadmiuminarticlesandpackagingmadeofPVCplastic•LeadinarticlesmadeofPVCplastic.

Perfluorinatedsubstances(PFAS,PFOA)havebeendetectedindrinkingwaterinanumberofmunicipalitiesinSweden.7

StudiesfromtheNationalFoodAgencyinSwedenshowthatbreastmilkandserumfromthebloodcontaindifferenttypesofpollutants.8Forbannedorrestrictedsubstancesthelevelsareslowlydecreasing.Levelsarehoweverincreasingforothersubstances,whichhavereplacedtheonesnowbanned.MercuryandPCBs,whichhavebeenrestrictedorbannednationallyforalongtime,arestillbeingfound.

5SamsonekJ,PuypeF(2013)FoodAdditives&Contaminants.6http://www.kemi.se/global/tillsyns-pm/2014/tillsyn-6-14-analyses-2008-2013.pdf7http://www.slv.se/sv/grupp3/Pressrum/Nyheter/Pressmeddelanden/Information-till-Sveriges-vattenproducenter-Hall-koll-pa-lackage-av-kemikalier-fran-brandovningsplatser8http://www.slv.se/modersmjolk

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ApproachesInordertoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment,itisimportanttoavoidorasfaraspossiblereducetheamountofhazardoussub-stancesinproducts.Itisalsoimportantfromarecyclingperspective,sincethiswillenableamoreefficientandsustainableuseofnaturalresourcesandacirculareconomy.

Hazardouschemicalsshouldbeavoidedrightfromtheoutset.Preventivechemicalscontroliscrucialandthechoiceofchemicalsandmaterialshastobeconsideredasearlyasinthedesignstageoftheproducts.Materialswhicharefreefromhazardoussubstanceswillenablethesafeuseofmorerecycledmaterialandkeeptoaminimumthematerialthatendsupasfinalwaste.Itisalsoimportanttomakesurethathazardoussubstancesareremovedfromthecirculationofmaterials,duringwastemanagementandmaterialrecycling.

Thereareseveralwaystoreduceproblemsrelatedtohazardouschemicalsinproducts,andacombinationofdifferentapproachesisbelievedtobethemostefficientwaytoreachthegoal.

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Restrictions on chemicals in products

Regulations of substances and specific product groups

Basicregulationofchemicalsmakesitpossibletocontrolthespreadofsubstanceswithhazardouspropertiesatanearlystageinthesupplychain.Substancesofveryhighconcernmaybesubjecttoregulatoryactionwellbeforetheybecomedispersedinsocietyandspreadfaroutofcontrol.Regulatingchemicalsearlyinthesupplychainiscost-effectiveandofgreatbenefittosociety.Anotherwaytolimittheuseofhazardouschemicalsinproductsistoregulatespecificchemicalsinspecificproductgroupswheretheriskofpotentialharmisconsideredtobehigh.Someofthemosthazardouschemicalsinproductsareregulatedthroughinternationalconventions.Theseneedtobeimplementednationally.

Stockholm Convention on POPs

TheStockholmConventiononPersistentOrganicPollutants(POPs)addressesanumberofhazardoussubstancesthatareorhavebeencommonlyusedinproducts(suchasPFOSintextiles,PCBsinelectri-calequipmentandbrominatedflameretardantsinvariouselectronicdevices).Sincethesesubstancesaredispersedthroughouttheworldandremainintactintheenvironmentforlongperiodsruleswhichapplyonlyinindividualcountriesarenotenoughtoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironment.Therefore,thesesubstancesaresubjecttoglobaleliminationorrestrictionsinordertoprotecthumanhealthandtheenvironmentfromharm.Recyclingofthesesubstancesisnotallowedandmustbeconsideredinthematerialrecyclingofproducts.

Minamata Convention on Mercury

TheMinamataConventiononmercuryincludesactionstocontroltheanthropogenicreleasesofmercurythroughoutitsentirelifecycle,fromminingtofinaldisposal.TheConventionincludesregulationsonmercurymining,thetradeinmercury,controlmeasuresonairemissions,artisanalandsmall-scalegoldmining,andtheuseofmercuryinproductsaswellaswastemanagement.

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Improved information exchange

Knowledgeofthepresenceofhazardoussubstancesinproductsiscrucialforthepropermanagement,includingsustainablerecyclinganddisposaloftheseproducts.Greateraccesstoinformationandknowledgeofflows,risksandthemanagementofchemicalsinproductswillimprovethepossibilitiesforsubstitutionofhazardoussubstancesandenableproducers,suppliersandconsumerswithinthesupplychaintomakeinformedchoices.

The Globally Harmonised System for Classification and Labelling (GHS)

TheUnitedNationshasadoptedaGloballyHarmonizedSystem(GHS)forclassificationandlabellingofsubstancesandmixtures.GHSmeansthatgloballyagreedcriteriawillbeappliedforassessingthephysical,health-relatedandenvironmentalpropertiesofsub-stancesandmixtures.Inadditiontothecriteriaforassessmentoftheproperties,GHScontainsrequirementsregardingthetransferofthisinformationtousersofchemicals,throughlabellingandsafetydatasheets.InthiswayGHSwillhelptoimprovechemicalsafetyanditwillalsofacilitateglobaltradeinchemicalsandproducts.

Chemicals in Products (CiP) Programme

TheChemicalsinProducts(CiP)Programmeisaglobalprogrammeforinformationonhazardoussubstancesinproducts,thathasbeendevelopedwithintheframeworkoftheUNStrategicApproachtoInternationalChemicalsManagement(SAICM),

TheCiPProgrammeisaimedatbusinesses,organizationsandotherstakeholderswhoareinvolvedinaproduct’slifecycleandareseekingtointroduceimprovedandefficientproceduresfortheexchangeofinformationonchemicalsinproducts.ThegoaloftheCiPProgrammeisthatstakeholdershaveaccesstoinformationonchemicalsinproductstoassisttheminmakingdecisionsandtakingappropriateactiononchemicalsexposure,riskandmanagement.

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A product’s life cycle, exemplified by a cellphone, including design, production, sales, use, waste management and recycling in a system where information on the chemicals involved is transferred between the various actors during the life cycle of the cellphone.

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TheCiPProgrammedocumentsetsouttheinformationexchangeobjectivesanddescribestherolesandproposedresponsibilitiesofstakeholdersthroughouttheproductlifecycle.TheguidancedescribesthetypeofCiPinformationstakeholdersmaywishtoexchangeandhowtheycandeterminewhichinformationisrelevant,e.g.whichchemicalstheyinclude.Furthermore,itgivesexamplesontheapproachtakenbydifferentbusinesssectorswithintheirrespectivesupply.Informationonchemicalsinproductsisakeytosustainablerecycling.

Legal requirements for information on chemicals in products

Inadditiontovoluntarymeasuresconnectedtoinformationexchange,legalrequirementscanbeimposedoncompaniesplacingproductscontaininghazardouschemicalsonthemarket.

CountriescanchosetomakeGHSmandatorybydevelopingnationalrulesonclassificationandlabellingofchemicals.IntheEuropeanUnion,GHShasbeenimplementedthroughtheRegula-tiononClassification,LabellingandPackagingofSubstancesandMixtures(CLPRegulation)andalsounderREACH(SafetyDataSheetrequirements).

EUrulesrelatedtoinformationoncertainchemicalsinproductscanalsobefoundintheREACHRegulationandtheBiocicalProductsRegulation.

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Enforcement of legislationTheenforcementofexistingregulationiscrucialforaneffectivereductionofhazardouschemicalsinproducts.Enforcementcane.g.bedonethroughon-siteinspectionofcompanieswhichmanufac-ture,importorsellproducts,tomonitortheirchemicalsmanagementsystem.Labellinganddocumentationcanbefollowed-upandalsobecomplementedbyanalysesoftheproducts,ifnecessary.

Networksofinspectorsandvariousreportingsystemscanbecreatedinordertomakeenforcementmoreefficient.

Other ways of working with industryVoluntarydialoguewithindustry,whichiscomplementarytolegisla-tion,canhelptoachieveresults.Thisdialoguecanincludeawareness-raisingactivitiessuchastrainingcourses,seminarsandotherinforma-tionactivities.

Togiveanexample,since2011theSwedishChemicalsAgencyhasbeenworkingtogetherwithcompaniesinthetoys,textiles,cosmeticsandhygieneproductssectorsinordertoensurethatchildrenaregivengreaterprotection.Companiesandsectorswishingtobeintheforefrontofeffortstophaseouthazardoussubstanceshavebeenpar-ticipatingonavoluntarybasis,andduringthecourseofthiscoopera-tiontargetshavebeenidentifiedconcerning:

•Voluntaryrestrictionsandphasingoutofsubstancessuchasaller-gensandsensitizersfromproductsforusebychildren.

•Theexchangeofknowledgebetweencompanies,governmentaut-horitiesandtheresearchworld.

• Informationactivitiesaimedatcompaniesorconsumers.

…

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Examples from EU

Basic chemicals legislation

REACH

REACHisaEuropeanUnionregulation,adoptedtoincreasetheprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironmentfromthepotentialrisksposedbychemicalswhileenhancingthecompetitivenessoftheEUchemicalsindustry.Italsopromotesalternativemethodsforthehazardassessmentofsubstancesinordertoreducethenumberoftestsonanimals.

REACHstandsforRegistration,Evaluation,AuthorisationandRestrictionofChemicals.

Inprinciple,REACHappliestoallchemicalsubstances,thoseusednotonlyinindustrialprocessesbutalsoinourday-to-daylives,inarticlessuchascleaningproductsandpaintsaswellasinotherssuchasclothes,furnitureandelectricalappliances.ThisregulationthereforeaffectsmostcompaniesacrosstheEU.

REACHplacestheburdenofproofoncompanies.TocomplywiththeRegulation,companiesmustidentifyandmanagetheriskslinkedtothesubstancestheymanufactureandmarketintheEU.TheyhavetodemonstratetotheEuropeanChemicalsAgency(ECHA)howthesubstancecanbesafelyused,andtheymustinformusersoftheriskmanagementmeasurestobetaken.

Iftheriskscannotbemanaged,theauthoritiescanrestricttheuseofthesesubstancesindifferentways.Inthelongrun,themosthazardoussubstancesshouldbesubstitutedwiththosethatarelesshazardous.

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Product specific legislation

Toys

TheToysSafetyDirectivestipulatesthatthecontentofchemicalsub-stancesintoysmustnotposeanyrisktohumanhealth.

Inthecaseofcertainsubstances,thereisasetlimitforleaching(migration)fromthetoy.SubstancesclassifiedasCMRsubstances,i.e.thosewhicharecarcinogenic,harmfultogeneticmaterial(mutagenic)orabletointerferewithreproductivecapacity(toxicforreproduction),mustnotbeusedinaccessiblepartsoftoys.Theinacces-siblepartsarealsosubjecttotheCMRbanifthesubstanceisinhalable.

TheDirectivealsocontainsalistofallergenicfragranceswhicharebannedfromuseintoysabovecertainconcentrationlimitsaswellaslimitvaluesfornitrosaminesandnitrosablesubstancesfortoysintendedforchildrenundertheageof36monthsortoysintendedforplacinginthemouth.

Electrical and electronic products

TheEURoHSDirectivecontainsrestrictionsoftheuseofcertainhazardoussubstancesinelectricalandelectronicequipment.

TheaimoftheDirectiveistoreducetheriskstohumanhealthandtheenvironmentthroughthesubstitutionofmercury,cadmium,lead,hexa-valentchromiumandtheflame-retardantsPBBandPBDEinelectricalandelectronicequipmentwithlesshazardousalternativesoralternativetechniques.TheRoHSDirectivedefinesconcentrationlimitsforthesesubstances.AnotheraimoftheDirectiveistoenableamoreresource-efficientandsustainablerecyclingofelectricalandelectronicequipment.

Ecodesign Directive

TheultimateaimoftheEcodesignDirectiveisthatmanufacturersofenergy-usingproductswillberequiredatthedesignstagetoreducetheirenergyconsumptionandanyothernegativeenvironmentalimpactoftheirproducts.WhiletheDirective’sprimaryaimistoreduceenergyuse,itisalsotoenforceotherenvironmentalconside-rationsincluding:materialsuse,wateruse,pollutingemissions,wasteissuesandrecyclability.

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Legislation related to information on chemicals in products

Biocidal Products Regulation

TheBiocidalProductsRegulationcontainsrulesrelatingtoarticlestreatedwithbiocides.Treatedproducts/articlesaredefinedasallsub-stances,mixturesorarticleswhicharetreatedwithorwhichintentio-nallyincorporateoneormorebiocidalproducts.Atreatedarticlecanbeanoutdoorpaintcontaininganalgaecide,acarpettreatedagainstmothsoracuttingboardtreatedwithantibacterialsubstances.EvenclothingtreatedtopreventodourareregardedastreatedarticlesaccordingtothedefinitionoftheBiocidalProductsRegulation.

Ifthearticlecomeswithabiocidalclaimsuchas‘antibacterial’,‘treatedtopreventodour’,‘protectsagainstmosquitoes’,‘hygienic’or‘inhibitsbacterialgrowth’,thearticlehastobelabelledwiththefollowinginformation:

•Statementthatthearticleincorporatesabiocidalproduct•Purposeofthetreatment•Nameofallactivesubstancescontainedinthebiocidalproduct•Nameofallnanomaterialscontainedinthebiocidalproduct• Instructionsforuse,includingnecessaryprecautions

TreatedarticlesmayonlybeplacedontheEUmarketiftheyhavebeentreatedwithbiocidalproductscontainingactivesubstancesapprovedintheEUfortherelevantproducttypeanduse.

TheBiocidalProductsRegulationcontainsrequirementsstipula-tingthattheefficacyofactivesubstanceswhenusedintreatedarticlescanbedemonstrated.Furthermore,whenabiocidalclaimisattachedtoatreatedarticlewhichisplacedonthemarket,themanufacturerofthearticlemustbeabletosubstantiatesuchaclaim.

TheNordiccountrieshavedevelopedandpublishedaguidancedocumentonhowtotestanddemonstratetheefficacyoftreatedarticles(“EfficacyAssessmentofTreatedArticles–aGuide”).Theguidestatesthatthebenefitofatreatedarticlemustbeproven.Withoutsuchbenefit,thiswouldposeanunnecessaryrisktohumanhealthandtheenvironment.

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REACH

TheREACHRegulationcontainslegalobligationsregardingtheiden-tificationofasubstanceasaSubstanceofVeryHighConcern(SVHC)anditsinclusionintheCandidateList.Suppliersofarticleswhichcontainsuchasubstanceinaconcentrationabove0.1%(weightbyweight)mustprovidetherecipientsofsucharticleswithenoughinfor-mationtoallowtheirsafeuse.Therecipientsinthiscaseareindustrialorprofessionalusersanddistributors,notconsumers.Theyshould,asaminimum,beinformedofthenameofthesubstanceinquestion.

Consumerscanrequestsimilarinformation,andthesupplierofthearticlemustprovidethisinformationfreeofchargewithin45days.

Producersandimportersofarticlescanobtaininformationonthesubstancespresentintheirarticlesandtheirconcentrationlevelsfromactorsfurtheruptheirsupplychain,suchasarticlesuppliersoutsidetheEUandsuppliersofsubstancesandmixtures.

AnumberofauthoritiesresponsibleforimplementingREACHwithintheEUhavejointlydevelopedaguidancedocumentforsuppliersofarticlesfortheEUmarket.Thisguidanceisintendedtomakesuppliersofarticles–i.e.producers,importers,wholesalersandretailers–awareofhowtoobtainandprovideinformationinordertofulfiltheirobligationsregardingarticles.•Firstly,theguidancedocumentprovidesadescriptionofREACH,theobligationsregardingtheprocessofprovidinginformationfortheCandidateListofsubstances,andadescriptionofanumberofotheraspectsofREACH.

•Secondly,itprovidespracticaladvicewhichfocusesonhowsuppliersshouldfulfilthedutytoinformcustomers,includinghowtheyshouldapplythetriggerlimit(regardingwhentoprovideinformation),howtheyshouldfirstaccessinformationfromfurtherupthesupplychain,andhowtheyshouldknowwhichinformationtoprovide.

•Thirdly,itprovidesadviceontheroutinesandtoolstoapplytotheworkofaccessing,storingandprovidinginformation.Finally,itprovidesabriefsummaryofimportantareasofadviceregardingtheseobligationsandthereasonswhysuppliersmaybenefitfromcarryingouttheseobligationsinlinewiththisguidancedocument.

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Enforcement networks and systems

Regional Enforcement Network for Chemicals and Waste (REN)

TheRegionalEnforcementNetworkforChemicalsandWaste(REN)isaprojectfinancedbytheGovernmentofSwedenthroughtheSwedishInternationalDevelopmentCooperationAgency(Sida)andimplementedbyUNEPin25countriesinNortheastAsia,SouthAsiaandSoutheastAsia.Theprojectaimstoreducetheillegaltransboun-darymovementofharmfulchemicalsandhazardouswaste,suchaselectricandelectronicproducts.Improvedcapacityoffrontlineenforcementofficialsandenhancedcooperationatbothnationalandregionallevelwillpromotemoreeffectiveenforcementofchemicalandwaste-relatedmultilateralenvironmentalagreements(MEAs).

RENhassetupaninformalnetworktoserveasaplatformforinformationexchangeandexperience-sharingfortheparticipatingcountriesaswellasthepartners.Projectactivitiesincludetechnicalassistanceforproblem-solving,informationandintelligence-sharing,enforcementoperationsandtheAsiaEnvironmentalEnforcementAward,networking,awarenessandpartnershipsforsustainability.

EU Enforcement Networks for Chemicals

ThereareseveralenforcementnetworksforchemicalsintheEU,whichareinvaluablefortheenforcementauthorities.Theseinclude:

•Forum•CLEEN•RoHS-Adco•Toys-Adco•Prosafe

Mutualprojects,theinterpretationoflegislation,theexchangeofinspectorsandotherquestionsarediscussedinthesenetworks.

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RAPEX

TheRapidAlertSystemfordangerousnon-foodproducts–RAPEX–isasystemusedbytheEUcountriestoexchangeinformationabouthazardousconsumerproductsavailableonthemarket.AlistofthenotificationsmadetoRAPEXispublishedeveryFridayregardinghazardousproductsreportedbyauthoritiesintheEUmemberstates.Thelistcontainsinformationabouteachproduct,itspotentialdangerandthemeasurestakenbythereportingcountry.

Definitions from EU regulations

Substance–Achemicalelementanditscompoundsinthenaturalstateorobtainedbyanymanufacturingprocess,includinganyadditivenecessarytopreserveitsstabilityandanyimpurityderivingfromtheprocessused,butexcludinganysolventwhichmaybeseparatedwithoutaffectingthestabilityofthesubstanceorchangingitscomposition.

Mixture–Amixtureorsolutioncomposedoftwoormoresubstances.

Chemical–Asubstanceormixture.

Hazardous substance/chemical–Anysubstancewhichhasaninherentcapacitytocauseanadverseeffect,immediatelyorinthemoredistantfuture,onhumans,animalsortheenvironment.

Chemical product –Aproductconsistingofoneormoresubstances.

Product–Anobjectwhichduringproductionisgivenaspecialshape,surface,ordesignthatdeterminesitsfunctiontoagreaterdegreethanitschemicalcomposition.

Article–Anobjectwhichduringproductionisgivenaspecialshape,surface,ordesignthatdeterminesitsfunctiontoagreaterdegreethanitschemicalcompositionREACHusestheterm“article”forwhatisinternationallyknownas“product”.AccordingtoREACH,articlescanbeclothing,flooring,furniture,jewellery,newspapersandplasticpackaging.

This information brochure is financed by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida