Restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment Directive 2011/65/EU — restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment It strengthens existing rules on the use of hazardous substances, such as lead, mercury and cadmium, in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to protect human health and the environment, in particular by enabling environmentally sound recovery […]
Emissions of volatile organic compounds in paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing products Directive 2004/42/EC on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products This directive, known as the ‘Paints Directive’ aims to limit the total content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs*) due to the use of organic solvents in […]
International trade in hazardous chemicals Decision 2006/730/EC – Prior Informed Consent Procedure for international trade in certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides It ensures the EU’s approval of, and participation in, the Rotterdam Convention after the Court of Justice had annulled the original legislative decision on a point of law. The convention provides for a prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides traded […]
Use, storage and trade of mercury Regulation (EU) 2017/852 — protecting human health and the environment from exposure to mercury and mercury compounds It seeks to protect human health and the environment by laying down measures and conditions concerning: the use and storage of and trade in mercury, mercury compounds and mixtures of mercury; the production and use of and trade in mercury-added products (i.e. […]
EU rules relating to pyrotechnic articles Directive 2013/29/EU — It sets out the rules to achieve the free movement of pyrotechnic articles* within the EU market while seeking to ensure high levels of protection of health and safety, and of the environment. It revises the existing rules on pyrotechnic articles (Directive 2007/23/EC) to align them with the so-called New Legislative Framework, a package of measures […]
Major accidents involving dangerous chemicals Directive 2012/18/EU on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances It aims to control major accident hazards involving dangerous substances, especially chemicals. This Directive, so-called Seveso-III, amended the previous Seveso-II (Directive 96/82/EC), which, in view of the lessons learned from later accidents such as Bhopal, Toulouse or Enschede, had amended the original Seveso-Directive (Directive 82/501/EEC), after the catastrophic accident […]
Regulatory framework for the management of chemicals (REACH), European Chemicals Agency The European Union (EU) has modernised European chemicals legislation and established REACH, an integrated system for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. Its objective is to improve the protection of human health and the environment whilst maintaining competitiveness and strengthening the spirit of innovation in Europe’s chemicals industry. A European Chemicals Agency […]
Detergents The legislation on detergents permits improved protection of the environment by safeguarding water systems from the harmful effects of certain substances found in detergents. It also increases consumer protection through more complete labelling which includes any substance that could cause allergies. Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on detergents Protection of the environment This […]
Disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) This Directive lays down rules to approximate the laws of the Member States on the controlled disposal of PCBs, the decontamination or disposal of equipment containing PCBs and/or the disposal of used PCBs in order to eliminate them completely. Council Directive 96/59/EC of 16 September 1996 on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT). […]
The Rotterdam Convention on the international trade in hazardous chemicals The European Union regulates the export and import of chemicals and has ratified the Rotterdam Convention of 1998. The aim of the Convention is to improve the international regulation of trade in certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in order to protect human health and the environment and to promote the environmentally sound use of such […]
Modern Regulation Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 [Official Journal L 353 of 31.12.2008]. This Regulation harmonises requirements concerning the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures in line with the […]
Biocidal products The European Union is establishing a regulatory framework for the placing of biocidal products on the market, with a view to ensuring a high level of protection for man and the environment and the proper functioning of the common market. Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market […]
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) — how the EU regulates chemicals Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and establishing a European Chemicals Agency Purpose The REACH (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) regulation provides a comprehensive legislative framework for chemicals manufacture and use in Europe. It shifts from public authorities to the industry the responsibility for […]