Bättre EU-regler för en giftfri miljö - Kemikalieinspektionen

place in 2018. The improvements should be aimed at prioritising substances by
identifying groups which need to be tested further, not at introducing general new
requirements for all substances. In the longer term the requirement of a risk assessment
(chemical safety report) must also apply to low-volume substances.
• REACH is aimed at individual substances and is not suited to dealing with groups of
substances, such as nanomaterials. We consider that, in time, REACH must be enhanced
on this point.
• As a result of REACH an extremely comprehensive database is being built up with
knowledge about chemicals. Much of the information will be public, but there is also a
need for processed, structured and more easily accessible information which users,
consumers and waste managers can access and benefit from.
We also point to the very strong international trend towards a ”new toxicology”. A basic idea
behind this is to replace testing which involves animals with alternative methods. At least in
the USA, however, the approach is much broader and generally aims at new and more
efficient methodology to evaluate hazardous properties in chemicals. In the longer term this
trend can be very significant for REACH, and we consider that the EU, and also Sweden,
must be involved in this development to a greater extent than at present.
Pesticides (Chapter 6.1)
The EU rules regarding the approval of pesticides are completely new in the EU. The
regulation regarding plant protection products was issued in 2009 and the new regulation
regarding biocidal products is, in principle, ready but has not been published at the time of
writing. The rules come very close to Swedish priorities under the environmental objective of
A Non-Toxic Environment. The great challenge lies in making the technically complicated
rules work effectively as intended. We feel that Sweden should, in the future, work towards
the rules being simplified whenever possible. With regard to plant protection products, the
rules should be applied so that physically acting products do not need to be tested and
approved separately.
EU rules regarding the use of pesticides exist in respect of plant protection products but not
with regard to biocidal products. We feel that common rules are needed for the use of biocidal
products, e.g. for the reason that the use is closely linked to approval testing. A review of this
issue will take place in 2015 when the Commission is due to submit a report. We should
support the Commission in its work on the review.
Foods (Chapter 6.2)
The EU has a very extensive body of legislation governing foods and materials in contact
with foods, which is of great importance for the management of risks associated with
chemicals. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) plays an important role in this area.
We identify seven issues where there is a need for further measures in the area of foods:
• There is a need to review packaging materials for foods, e.g. paper, among other things
with regard to the presence of printing ink components, perfluorinated substances and
mineral oil. The limit value for lead in ceramic glazes needs to be lowered.
• Certain foreign substances in foods are currently unregulated and there is a need for
further risk assessment and possible risk management. Examples of these are
perfluorinated substances and brominated flame retardants.
• There is a lack of rules at EU level regarding materials in contact with drinking water.
There is also a need to review rules governing metals in drinking water.
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