UK to improve chem innovation by changing notification regs

05 December 2001 15:45  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--The UK Health and Safety Commission (HSC) intends to promote innovation in the chemical industry by amending regulations concerning the notification of new substances.

New regulations became necessary after the European Commission (EC) recently agreed the 28^th Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Dangerous Substances Directive.

The EC legislation, which is scheduled to come into force by 31 July 2002, includes a reduced test package for chemical intermediates with low exposure to workers and the environment.

The introduction of the reduced test package, which represents a minimum data set designed to produce a preliminary risk assessment, is expected to reduce the costs of notification for these chemicals and the time required to launch them.

The HSC this week published a consultative document* seeking comments on the new regulations. Comments should be made by 4 March 2002.

An HSC spokeswoman said the amendments are expected to come into force at around the same time as the EC legislation, to ensure maximum compliance and efficiency.

*Copies of the HSC consultative document (CD165) Proposals for new amending Regulations for The Notifications of New Substances: NONS 2001 are available, free of charge, from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6FS, Tel: +44 1787 881165, Fax: +44 1787 313995. It can be viewed at: www.hse.gov.uk/condocs/

By: Joanna Kesteven
+44 208 652 3214

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