Bättre EU-regler för en giftfri miljö - Kemikalieinspektionen

an approach which is being discussed with regard to discovering possible problem substances
under the Water Framework Directive. We consider it to be important for the EU to develop
environmental monitoring for increased awareness of the spread of, and exposure to,
environmental toxins.
It is also important to raise awareness of the presence of POPs and their effects on the
environment by encouraging more and targeted systematic efforts in the area.
Chemicals in the aquatic environment (Chapter 8.11)
The EU Water Framework Directive is an important legal instrument closely related to the
chemicals sector, in part through the legislation identifying measures for prioritised
substances in the aquatic environment. The directive is also important with regard to the
discussion of combination effects of chemicals. In our view Sweden should press for an
investigation at EU level about how cooperation and feedback between the Water Framework
Directive and other relevant legislation can be improved. The investigation can, for example,
result in EU guidance for the member states or a review of legal instruments.
Sweden should, moreover, work for rules to assess biological effects being developed and
included in the Water Framework Directive.
Global cooperation about chemicals (Chapter 4)
In addition to the EU cooperation Sweden also takes part in the global cooperation about
chemicals through chemical conventions and other international agreements, e.g. the global
chemicals strategy SAICM. Progress in the global arena is to a large extent dependent on the
EU playing an active role. In the report we mention six areas where it is important that the EU
establishes its own strategy for what should be achieved globally:
• the supply of information about chemicals in articles,
• more persistent organic pollutants (POPs) being regulated through the Stockholm
Convention,
• developing the EU’s mercury strategy as a basis for global efforts on the mercury issue,
• coordinating rules on mercury in existing chemicals conventions,
• an EU strategy on the issue of a future framework convention about chemicals,
• prioritising at global level the development of national systems for chemicals control.
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