Photo: BMLFUW
Chemicals policy
Austria’s way of handling chemicals aims at ensuring a high level of protection for humans and the environment.
Natural products, like starch, glucose or cellulose, are produced in material cycles by living beings and plants and finally degrade enzymatically. Due to the technological developments thousands of new materials and chemicals are produced, or are obtained in the course of production processes, that are no longer naturally degradable.How we deal with these chemicals is the subject of the Austrian chemicals policy. The objective is to achieve a high level of protection for human health and the environment.
What are the current environment-policy goals of Austria’s chemicals policy?
On 1 June 2007 the European Chemicals Regulation (REACH) entered into force. Its objective is the study and documentation of hazardous properties of chemicals and measures for risk prevention. REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation as well as for Chemicals. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki will administer the evaluation, authorisation and restriction of the chemical substances and ensure a uniform system within the European Union.
The three-step REACH system is to minimise the harmful effects of chemical substances on health and the environment EU-wide and alleviate the existing pollution situation. For this purpose about 30,000 substances, which are produced within the EU or imported in quantities exceeding one tonne per enterprise and year, are to be recorded. The information collected serves at the same time as a basis for risk-reducing measures such as utilisation requirements and restrictions.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) brings about a global harmonisation of the chemicals classification and labelling, which is to be implemented by the end of 2008.
The Stockholm Convention aims at a global ban of particularly hazardous, persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In the European Union it was implemented by means of the POP Regulation on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Part of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention is the INTERREG project ‘MONARPOP’, the Monitoring Network in the Alpine Region for Persistent Organic Pollutants. The project is co-financed by the EU and five Alpine countries and is chaired by Austria.
The Biocidal Products Directive provides for an authorisation and registration procedure for biocidal products which is based on risk and effectiveness. In this way the application of biocides is to be restricted to the necessary minimum.
Plant protection products may only be placed on the market in Austria if they meet the requirements of the Plant Protection Products Act. Authorisation and evaluation are regulated by the Plant Protection Products Directive of the European Union. The plant protection product Paraquat is prohibited in Austria.
As to the implementation of a new EU Chemicals Policy which is based on the precautionary principle, Austria is in a leading position and attaches great importance to research in hormone-active substances in waters. The final report of the ARCEM programme (Austrian Research Co-operation on Endocrine Modulators) illustrates that the approach of the precautionary protection of waters has been successful. Any hormone-related risk from the consumption of groundwater or eating fish can presently be excluded.
For industry, the Austrian Environment Ministry propagates best-practice models like chemicals leasing. By means of this novel business model, which is based on the principle that chemicals are "leased" instead of being purchased again and again, about one third of the over 150,000 tonnes of the chemicals used in industry, like solvents, cleaning agents, catalysts, coolants, and lubricants, can be saved in Austria. Austria-wide about 4,000 enterprises would be suited for "chemicals leasing".
An important tool providing orientation for Austrian households in the field of cleaning agents, paints and varnishes, but also of building material, is the Austrian Eco-label.
25.08.2008, Lebensministerium Öffentlichkeitsarbeit