Chemical safety

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The term chemical safety describes the national and international efforts to ensure the protection of people and the environment from hazardous chemicals ( hazardous substances ) through regulations ( laws , conventions, etc.) .

National regulations

Germany

In Germany , chemical safety is regulated by law on the protection of hazardous substances ( Chemicals Act , ChemG), on the basis of which the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance (ChemVerbotsV) regulates the placing on the market of and the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) regulates the handling of dangerous substances and preparations.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, the most important legal bases for chemical safety are the Chemicals Act , the Environmental Protection Act as well as the Chemicals Ordinance and the Chemicals Risk Reduction Ordinance .

European regulation

Since December 1, 2010, companies that place chemicals on the market in the EEA or in Switzerland must meet all requirements of the ordinance on classification, labeling and packaging . This also determines what information is on the labels of the chemicals that workers and consumers use. The new EU classification system corresponds to the Globally Harmonized System of the United Nations, so that one and the same hazard is described and identified in the same way worldwide. By January 3, 2011, companies had to register their hazardous chemical substances with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in accordance with the REACH regulation .

International regulations

Due to the worldwide trade in dangerous substances and the accidental release of these substances, a common international approach is important, especially

  • to an improved knowledge of the substance properties
  • safe handling during transport and use
  • and, if necessary, on application or even production bans

aims. At the international level there are various action plans and agreements that are intended to ensure the protection of people and the environment.

Agenda 21

In chapter 19 of Agenda 21 the principles for an internationally effective chemical safety and a concrete chemical management have been laid down. The program of action adopted by numerous heads of state and government at the first conference on the environment and development, which took place in Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil ) in 1992 , sets targets for the environmentally sound handling of chemicals, including measures to prevent the illegal international trade in toxic and dangerous products codified.

Bahia Declaration

The representatives of governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations who met at the Intergovernmental Forum for Chemical Safety (IFCS) in Salvador da Bahía (Brazil ) in October 2000 have once again confirmed their commitment to the implementation of Chapter 19 of Agenda 21 in the Bahia Declaration Reaffirms the use of chemicals. In addition, recommendations were adopted to improve international chemical safety. These recommendations include: a.

  • promoting global cooperation in the field of chemical safety and preventive environmental protection
  • improving the flow of information on the safe handling of chemicals,
  • the ratification and implementation of the conventions and agreements relevant to chemical safety.

World Summit Johannesburg 2002

At the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), which took place in Johannesburg ( South Africa ) in 2002 , an action plan ( Johannesburg Plan of Implementation ) was adopted, which, among other things, changes in Section III (Non-sustainable consumption and production patterns) with the area Chemical safety concerns. Paragraph 22 states: “The renewal of the obligation from Agenda 21 to treat chemicals throughout their entire cycle and hazardous waste appropriately in the interests of sustainable development and the protection of human health and the environment, with the aim, among other things, of up to To achieve by 2020 that chemicals are used and produced in such a way that significant negative effects on human health and the environment are minimized. "

PIC Pre-Informed Consent Agreement

The Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure ( Prior Informed Consent , PIC) for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade was adopted in September 1998 and ratified, among others, Germany, Switzerland and the EU. It entered into force on February 24, 2004 as the first convention after the World Summit in Johannesburg. It is also known as the Rotterdam Convention from the place where it was signed. The convention obliges exporting contracting states to inform the relevant importing countries in advance of an intended transfer of hazardous chemicals and to carry this out only after the importing country has given its express consent. This regulation is intended to protect developing countries in particular.

POP Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

The Convention on Certain Persistent Organic Pollutants ( Persistent Organic Pollutants , POPs) entered into force on 17 May of 2004. The Convention is also known as the Stockholm Convention from the place where it was signed. The aim of the convention is to protect people and the environment from initially twelve dangerous chemicals ( dirty dozen ). Nine of the original twelve chemicals is pesticides , but has been extended in developed countries time prohibited but were still used in developing countries to some extent. All twelve chemicals spread in the atmosphere worldwide and have negative long-term effects on human and animal organisms.

Mercury convention

The Minamata Convention , which aims to curb emissions of the heavy metal mercury , entered into force on August 16, 2017, after it had been ratified by fifty states ninety days earlier.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ REACH in practice: The implementation of the GHS in practice - orientation & support for small and medium-sized companies. (PDF; 249 kB) Federal Environment Agency , p. 16 , accessed on June 20, 2017 .
  2. ↑ Jens Küllmer, Ulrich Schlottmann: International Chemical Safety: Results of the Johannesburg World Summit 2002. In: Communications of the Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology Section. 8 (4), pp. 4-5 and P. 23 (2002).
  3. ^ Rotterdam Convention, Prior Informed Consent (PIC)

literature