Instructions from the Government to the Swedish Chemicals Agency in the appropriation directions for 2011
Action plan for a toxin-free everyday environment
The Swedish Chemicals Agency has been assigned to report on initiatives and costs to carry out the action plan for a toxin-free everyday environment. The assignment includes to:
- improve knowledge about risks to the rising generation;
- accelerate efforts regarding REACH: the number of dossiers on substances on the candidate list, restrictions and assessments of substances;
- reduce the risks connected with health-hazardous substances in food stuffs;
- contribute with improved information on chemicals in articles;
- support voluntary initiatives to substitution;
- increase enforcement activities on articles.
The action plan was presented on 31 March 2011 and the final report is to be presented no later than 31 December 2014.
See press release of the Swedish Ministry of the Environment.
Summary of the action plan in English.
Handling of pesticides
Before the end of 2011, the time for handling applications for authorisation of plant protection products and biocidal products shall on average be 12 months or shorter to the extent the time of handling is not governed by EU law or if the applicant is required to submit complementary documentation. As far as possible, the handling of pesticides has to be made more effective.
Simplified regulations
The general objective of the Swedish government´s efforts on simplifications for companies is aimed to achieve a positive change in the everyday situation of companies. An important incentive in this work is to reduce the administrative costs as a consequence of regulations imposed on companies. The reduction should be 25 per cent until 2012 as compared with 2006.
The Swedish Chemicals Agency will be assisting the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth in measuring the costs caused by changes in the regulations during 2010.
Assessment of Swedish regulations on permits, among other things, for particularly harmful chemical products
The Swedish Chemicals Agency has been instructed to assess Swedish regulations on permits for the handling of particularly harmful chemical products. The assignment includes permit requirements and to assess whether the Swedish restrictions regarding the handling of corrosive products for drain cleaning is required. The aim should be to simplify for companies and to modernise and adapt Swedish regulations to EU rules at the same time as to attain safe handling.
An assessment should be made whether the regulations could be simplified and in what way uniform application could be ensured. Consideration should be made to the conditions of EU law to apply national rules and KemI should propose in what way Swedish rules could be changed. Consultations should be made with companies handling chemical products and with county councils currently responsible for handling permits. Possible consequences to companies and other stakeholders of a proposal for changed Swedish regulations, should also be considered.
The assignment was reported on 1 March 2012.
Rapport 2/12 Överlåtelse av särskilt farliga kemiska produkter m.m in Swedish with an English summary.
Survey of the EU chemicals legislation
The Swedish Chemicals Agency has been instructed by the Swedish Government to conduct a broad survey of the EU legislation and other instruments of importance to the control of chemicals.
The report shall include proposals for developments and improvements of the EU legislation and other international rules. The proposals will be considered in work to identify environmental issues to be urged for by Sweden in the next few years.
The assignment was reported to the Ministry of the Environment on 1 March 2012.
Rapport 1/12 Bättre EU-regler för en giftfri miljö. In Swedish, with an English summary.
Enforcement strategy for environmental and health risks with chemicals in articles
The Swedish Chemicals Agency has been instructed to prepare an enforcement strategy for environmental and health risks with chemicals in articles/commodities.
The strategy should include groups of articles and business sectors to be prioritised in enforcement activities. Information on the criteria on which the groups of articles were selected should be provided as well as in what way KemI intends to co-operate with municipalities with the aim to ensure effective enforcement activities of articles in society, not giving rise to unnecessary costs for companies.
The assignment was reported to the Ministry of the Environment on 31 December 2011.
Rapport 3/11 Kemikalier i varor. In Swedish with an English summary.
Implementing the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region
The Swedish government has instructed four governmental agencies and five county councils that are water authorities to co-operate and contribute in an active way in implementing the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region.
The work is to be conducted within the framework of four cornerstones to make the region more:
Environmentally sustainable (e.g. reducing pollution in the sea);
Prosperous (e.g. promoting innovation in small and medium enterprises);
Accessible and attractive (e.g. better transport links);
Safe and secure (e.g. improving accident response).
The agencies are: the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
The final report was delivered to the Ministry of the Environment on 1 June 2011.
