Module 3, Introduction to European Chemical Regulation (3.004)

Safety Data Sheet Training

[ Download / Print Version - PDF ]

At the end of this one-day module participants will have the knowledge and understanding to navigate the complexities of chemicals legislation, and apply it their own areas. In particular participants will:

• Have an overview of chemicals legislation at EU level, and understand how it evolves
  
• Understand how chemicals are regulated, e.g.
  
• • By product type
  • For transport, supply and use
  • For specific aspects such as workplace storage and use, pollution or consumer safety
• Identify the different approaches adopted in regulating chemicals, e.g.
  
• • Bans or prohibitions
  • Authorisation or restriction
  • Notification
  • Setting down ‘rules’ to be followed by dutyholders
• Understand the difference between EU Regulations and Directives, and the roles of EU Agencies such as European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA)
  
• Understand how EU legislation is made, and the opportunities to influence.
  
• Be familiar with key terms such as hazard, risk, substance, mixture, placing on the market, manufacturers, importers, distributors, downstream users, etc.
  
• Understand the underlying approach to chemical risk assessment and risk management for people and the environment, and the mechanisms for communicating information about the hazards and risks of chemicals
• Have an insight into some current chemical issues and concerns.
  

If you are struggling to see the overall picture in how chemicals are regulated, or to understand complex legal texts, or if you are moving to a new area this course will be helpful and informative. It also provides a stepping stone to other CHCS modules on more specific areas such as transport of dangerous goods, preparing safety data sheets, classification and labelling, risk characterisation, as well as chemistry, toxicology and ecotoxicology.

UK ‘Brexit’

The 'Brexit' outcome from the June 2016 referendum is unlikely to affect the importance of compliance with EU legislation. As now, businesses supplying chemicals in other EU Member States or in the European Economic Area will have to comply with European law. The future requirements on those supplying chemicals only in the UK may only become certain when the terms of the exit have been agreed. However existing experience is that open access to the EU market is associated with national adherence to the same standards.

Module Tutor

Robin Foster studied chemistry at University College London, and took a PhD at Cambridge. He is head of policy in the Health and Safety Executive’s International Chemicals Unit, a small policy team based in London. He represents the UK Government on a range of chemical issues, including classification and labelling of chemicals, REACH, and chemical agents in the workplace. He led for the UK in negotiating the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (1272/2008) (CLP) and the Biocidal Products Regulation (528/2012). He is actively involved in the development of CLP at EU level and in the Globally Harmonised System at UN level, and is presently vice-chair of the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonised System for classification and labelling.

Delegate Feedback

Module 3 is a relatively new course first run in March 2016. Delegate feedback from the two occasions the module was run in 2016 was very positive:

"Linked all areas together to give the big picture."

"Good and experienced presenters covered the topics I was interested in. Well-structured slides and good material to take back home."

"Overview of the EU legislative process was very informative and pitched at the right level."

“Effectively showed how different EU Regulations are related to each other and gave a good overview of the overall picture.”

"An excellent basic introduction (which is what I required)."

"The presenters were very approachable, they had extensive knowledge of their subjects and were well equipped to answer any of the questions asked, even if the question did not relate to the course directly."

SCHC Members
We are delighted to offer members of the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication our training courses at CHCS Member rates. If you are a SCHC Member and would like to attend this course please contact the CHCS office at enquiries@chcs.org.uk.

Credit Card Payment
We now accept payment by Credit Card, using Worldpay. 

    

To pay by credit card, please choose the "Credit Card" from the "Payment Type" options on the booking form. We''ll then send you a link by email to our WorldPay Credit Card payment screen.

For more details about CHCS Credit Card Payments, including our Refund Policy, please download our CHCS Credit Card Payments document. 

Your attention is drawn to the conditions below:

Delegates can be substituted at any time, subject to payment of membership fee if applicable. However, once booked, the full fee is payable. As this is a limited space training event refunds can only be made if CHCS is notified in advance, and is able to successfully re-offer the place to another delegate.

CHCS reserves the right to alter or cancel the programme due to circumstances beyond our control. If CHCS cancels, then refunds will be made.