Chemicals

Guidance for planners and operators of refrigeration equipment

The use of poisonous bait to control rats and mice can lead to an unintentional poisoning of pets and wild animals. In addition, most of the chemical substances used are very persistent in the environment and accumulate in organisms. A large number of risk mitigation measures must be taken to prevent these occurrences, for example the use of bait stations.

The Federal Ministry for Environment has presented a plan for the gradual phase-out of the use of the broadband herbicide glyphosate. The Use of Pesticides Ordinance will be amended for this purpose. The German Environment Agency as competent body for the authorisation procedure seeks to make the authorisation of products which harm biodiversity contingent upon certain conditions of their use.

German Environment Agency presents seven priority areas for action

The human biomonitoring initiative known as HBM4EU was launched nearly one year ago with a funding volume of 74 million euros. The project has now decided to take a closer look at nine new substances including mercury, acrylamide, glyphosate and fipronil.

The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) was launched about one year ago. The guests of an anniversary event held in Bonn represented government, industry, science and civil society praising the Center’s successful start and looked ahead to the future tasks and goals of ISC3.

Pesticides may only be applied on Natura 2000 sites if the procedure has received prior approval for tolerability in accordance with an exacting authorisation procedure under EU nature conservation law. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Environment Agency (UBA) have produced a guide for the responsible authorities in the Länder on how to conduct this check.

Copper emissions from antifouling paints should be reduced

Certain chemical substances are harmful to man and the environment. As part of the “AskREACH” EU LIFE project, staff in companies which produce or sell consumer products are able to partake in an online survey on “Substances of Very High Concern” in manufactured products until 30 September 2018. The results will be incorporated in the development of a Europe wide database and app.

CAP reform offers chance for more environmentally friendly agriculture on a broad scale

Persistent substances in the water can lead to long-term problems.

The AskREACH project aims at raising awareness on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in articles among the European population, retailers and industry. AskREACH developed the smartphone app Scan4Chem which can be used to readily receive information on SVHCs in consumer articles or send information requests to suppliers. The European Chemicals Regulation REACH provides the legal framework.