Finland
Madam Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished colleagues,
While fully supporting the statement by the European Union on chemicals, Finland
would like to express here some complementary views and share experiences on
national chemical policies with you.
Following the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the Council of State of Finland
adopted the National Chemicals Programme in spring 2006. The overall goal of the
Programme is to ensure that chemicals will not cause significant adverse effects on
human health or the environment in Finland by 2020. The follow-up of the measures
proposed in the chemicals programme and the evaluation of the effectiveness of these
measures are to be assessed in 2011.
The programme takes into account the effects on consumers, public health, workers'
health and safety, as well as the effects on the environment during the entire lifecycle of
chemicals. Altogether 35 measures to achieve the objectives of the programme were
adopted.
According to the programme, Finland should actively participate in the work to
minimize by 2020 significant adverse effects of chemicals globally in accordance with
the Johannesburg objectives. Finland is also expected to be an active player in
international co-operation and communication to promote chemicals safety.
One of the main priorities agreed in the National Chemicals Programme is efficient
implementation of the EU chemicals legislation. The aim is that high level of protection
of health and the environment under the new legislation, particularly the new regulatory
system REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization of Chemicals), is achieved. It is
also important that the provisions are effectively implemented and that the new data
gathered in the implementation of new legislation is utilized. Companies should also
have sufficient know-how and tools for chemicals risk management.
Furthermore, it was agreed by the Council of State that adequate data on exposure and
emissions of chemicals dangerous to human health and the environment must be
provided for risk assessment and risk management activities as well as for the
evaluation of the effectiveness of measures. It was also agreed that sufficient data on
chemicals in products and manufactured goods should be provided so that the risks
from the chemicals are controlled during the entire lifecycle of the products and goods.
We are very pleased that the second session of the International Conference of
Chemicals Management (ICCM2) adopted a resolution on the implementation of the
project on Chemicals in Products with the aim of, inter alia, developing specific
recommendations for actions to promote implementation of the Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management, (SAICM). We also find it very important that the
World Health Assembly has taken SAICM implementation on its agenda for the meeting
on May 2010.
We are very encouraged by the outcome of the simultaneous extraordinary meetings of
the COPs to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in Bali earlier this year.
It provides us with a good basis for continued efforts to improve the overall governance
of our chemicals- and waste related instruments.
Thank you.
While fully supporting the statement by the European Union on chemicals, Finland
would like to express here some complementary views and share experiences on
national chemical policies with you.
Following the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the Council of State of Finland
adopted the National Chemicals Programme in spring 2006. The overall goal of the
Programme is to ensure that chemicals will not cause significant adverse effects on
human health or the environment in Finland by 2020. The follow-up of the measures
proposed in the chemicals programme and the evaluation of the effectiveness of these
measures are to be assessed in 2011.
The programme takes into account the effects on consumers, public health, workers'
health and safety, as well as the effects on the environment during the entire lifecycle of
chemicals. Altogether 35 measures to achieve the objectives of the programme were
adopted.
According to the programme, Finland should actively participate in the work to
minimize by 2020 significant adverse effects of chemicals globally in accordance with
the Johannesburg objectives. Finland is also expected to be an active player in
international co-operation and communication to promote chemicals safety.
One of the main priorities agreed in the National Chemicals Programme is efficient
implementation of the EU chemicals legislation. The aim is that high level of protection
of health and the environment under the new legislation, particularly the new regulatory
system REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization of Chemicals), is achieved. It is
also important that the provisions are effectively implemented and that the new data
gathered in the implementation of new legislation is utilized. Companies should also
have sufficient know-how and tools for chemicals risk management.
Furthermore, it was agreed by the Council of State that adequate data on exposure and
emissions of chemicals dangerous to human health and the environment must be
provided for risk assessment and risk management activities as well as for the
evaluation of the effectiveness of measures. It was also agreed that sufficient data on
chemicals in products and manufactured goods should be provided so that the risks
from the chemicals are controlled during the entire lifecycle of the products and goods.
We are very pleased that the second session of the International Conference of
Chemicals Management (ICCM2) adopted a resolution on the implementation of the
project on Chemicals in Products with the aim of, inter alia, developing specific
recommendations for actions to promote implementation of the Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management, (SAICM). We also find it very important that the
World Health Assembly has taken SAICM implementation on its agenda for the meeting
on May 2010.
We are very encouraged by the outcome of the simultaneous extraordinary meetings of
the COPs to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in Bali earlier this year.
It provides us with a good basis for continued efforts to improve the overall governance
of our chemicals- and waste related instruments.
Thank you.
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