歐盟正著手建構首個有害化學品資料庫,歐盟化學總署5日表示,截至目前為止,當局已收到300萬份化學品申報資料,且這些資料在申報時均已依照新通報規定做出分類。這些分類資料可讓當局審定某項化學品是否對人體或環境有害,以及應標示哪些訊息讓作業人員或使用者知悉。
歐盟將利用這些資料建立歐洲第一個有害物質資料庫,並建立統一的分類標準,這些資料今年稍晚會出版。
「歐盟首度建立所有有害物質資料庫,將可確保包括小型企業的所有企業和消費者,都有如何安全使用化學品的訊息,新規定將促進歐洲化學工業的可持續性和競爭力。」同時擔任工業和企業家精神專員的歐盟委員會副主席Tajani如此表示。
歐盟環境執委波托奇尼克(Janez Potocnik)指出,「化學品分類的出版和統一,將可促進使用這些化學品時的安全性,並使下游用戶和消費者依其所需選用較低危害的化學品。」
上述通報新規定是因應歐盟新制定的「化學品分類、標示和包裝」法規,該法規是為了讓歐盟與聯合國的全球系統同步,確保世界各地都以相同方式標示化學品及其危害。
所有生產或進口危險物質的公司,照規定都應在2010年12月1日之前進行分類,並在本月3日前通報。化學總署在截止日前共收到3,114,835份提報資料,其中最大數量是來自德國有80多萬份,而英國則有50多萬份,法國有接近30萬,總計共有6600多家公司至少申報一種物質。
More than three million notices classifying chemical substances in line with new EU rules have been received, the European Chemicals Agency said today. Classification will allow the agency to decide whether a chemical is dangerous to health or the environment, and will determine what information is on the labels of chemicals that workers and consumers use.
The data will enable the agency to establish the first European inventory of hazardous substances and harmonized classifications, due for publication later this year.
"The first inventory of all hazardous substances in the EU will ensure that all companies, including small businesses, and consumers will have the necessary information for the safe use of chemicals," said European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, who also serves as commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship.
The new rules "will foster the sustainability and competitiveness of the European chemicals industry," said Tajani.
Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Environment said, "The publication and harmonization of classifications will improve safety for all those handling chemicals and will enable downstream users and consumers to select less hazardous chemicals for their needs."
The new rules are set forth in the EU Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of chemicals, which ensures that the same hazards are described and labeled in the same way all around the world by aligning the EU classification system with the United Nations Globally Harmonised System.
All companies manufacturing or importing hazardous substances were required to classify them by December 1, 2010 and notify the agency by Monday. The agency received 3,114,835 notifications by the deadline.
The largest number of the notifications, over 800,000, came from Germany. Over 500,000 notifications were submitted from the United Kingdom and nearly 300,000 from France. Altogether, more than 6,600 companies notified at least one substance.
全文及圖片詳見:ENS報導