Recent trends and developments in the EU in the environmental control and management of chemicals

In the further development and implementation of European legislation on chemicals and related products the following aspects and trends can be identified: (1) refinement and adaptation of existing legislation and guidelines to technical progress (including extension of testing and risk assessment strategies), (2) preparation and implementation of new directives and regulations, (3) increasing application and further development of screening methods and model approaches, and (4) global harmonization of hazard and risk assessment criteria and procedures in the frame of the International Forum on Chemical Safety (chapter 19 of Agenda 21). The increasing use of evaluation and screening models can be illustrated by the further development and application of specific models such as EUSES and EASE to predict effect and exposure data. On the effects assessment side, models are available or under development to predict the phototoxicity and potential endocrine disruptors (estrogen/androgen binding affinity) of industrial chemicals. Finally, the emphasis that is given worldwide to the global harmonization procedures initiated under chapter 19 of Agenda 21, agreed at the UNCED conference for the environment and sustainable development in 1992, cannot fail to influence further developments in Europe.