Methodological problems of assessing the economic impacts of EU chemicals policy

The European Commission has elaborated the principles of a new chemicals policy in Europe in its White Paper on “Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy” (European Commission, 2001). Studies have since been published for Germany and for the EU which look into the potential economic repercussions of future policies on chemicals. These examine very different aspects using different methods and based on different assumptions concerning the design of future EU chemicals policy.