National Programme on Hazardous Chemicals. Interim review and revision 2017
Ympäristöministeriö
07.06.2018
Julkaisusarja:
The Finnish Environment 4en/2017This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-11-4799-9Tiivistelmä
A review has been conducted on the implementation of the National Programme on Hazardous Chemicals and its recommendations have been revised. The programme was prepared in accordance with Prime Minister Vanhanen’s Government Programme in 2006 and it was supplemented in 2013 as required by Prime Minister Katainen’s Government Programme.
The objective of the programme is to ensure that chemicals pose no significant environmental risks or human health hazards in Finland in 2020. With regard to the management of chemical risks the revision focused on changes in the operating environment. These include the circular economy, the 7th EU Environment Action Programme, the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals, and the reform of the EU the legislation and policy on occupational health and safety. The matters considered also included how the programme can contribute to the sustainable use of biocides and application of the principles of sustainable chemistry, enhance the knowledge base on environmental microplastics, and better take into account the exposure to sensitizers.
The recommendations for measures have been further specified and updated. More information is still needed on the exposure of the population and employees to chemicals and environmental load caused by hazardous chemicals. Matters to be taken into account in promoting the circular economy include the risks of hazardous substances contained in the materials and possibilities to use non-harmful alternatives instead of these.
The new recommendations for measures are concerned with making sustainable chemistry better known, reducing exposure to sensitizers at workplaces, preparation of instructions for sustainable use of biocides, and taking international action to reduce plastic wastes in marine areas and the harmful substances contained in and bound to these.
The objective of the programme is to ensure that chemicals pose no significant environmental risks or human health hazards in Finland in 2020. With regard to the management of chemical risks the revision focused on changes in the operating environment. These include the circular economy, the 7th EU Environment Action Programme, the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals, and the reform of the EU the legislation and policy on occupational health and safety. The matters considered also included how the programme can contribute to the sustainable use of biocides and application of the principles of sustainable chemistry, enhance the knowledge base on environmental microplastics, and better take into account the exposure to sensitizers.
The recommendations for measures have been further specified and updated. More information is still needed on the exposure of the population and employees to chemicals and environmental load caused by hazardous chemicals. Matters to be taken into account in promoting the circular economy include the risks of hazardous substances contained in the materials and possibilities to use non-harmful alternatives instead of these.
The new recommendations for measures are concerned with making sustainable chemistry better known, reducing exposure to sensitizers at workplaces, preparation of instructions for sustainable use of biocides, and taking international action to reduce plastic wastes in marine areas and the harmful substances contained in and bound to these.