Tarja Gordienko -

Substances of concern (SVHCs) in products – whose job is it to control these in a free trade world?

Worldwide regulators are becoming increasingly concerned that measures that have been taken to better control or substitute substances of high concern, i.e. those that have unwanted properties, may not have the intended positive effect on human health and the environment due to the continued import of articles containing these substances.

Checking analytically articles for their content is important and could activate companies to improve their knowledge on substances in articles and, where relevant, take action. However, controlling the imports of potentially millions of different articles is a huge and very costly task. Therefore, this panel will discuss the challenge how to create a situation where importers, together with their suppliers abroad can generate the necessary knowledge on the substances present in the articles they produce, buy and sell. Better knowledge on what’s present in these articles will ensure safer use of chemicals during their production and will help assessing the risks during their service life and waste stages. It should facilitate substitution where this is feasible and ultimately support the realisation of a circular economy.

Panelists from different parts of the world with NGO, regulatory and different industry backgrounds will discuss the potential role of different parties to better control these substances of concern in a free trade world and hopefully will be able to develop some joint recommendations on how to solve this important issue.

Jack de Bruijn

Jack de Bruijn, Director of Risk Management, European Chemicals Agency

The Panel “Substances of concern (SVHCs) in products – whose job is it to control these in a free trade world?” will take place on Friday 9 June 2017 in Helsinki Chemicals Forum with Jack de Bruijn as a moderator. You are also welcome to join the conversation on Twitter @ChemicalsForum.