Environmental protection

Homepage > Environmental Protection > Chemicals

Environmental Protection: Chemicals

UK Chemicals strategy

The Government's Chemicals Strategy, published in December 1999, falls under the Sustainable Developmentinitiative. The government's commitment to this concept across all areas of policy entails an effort towards four objectives-social progress that recognises the needs of all, effective protection of the environment, prudent use of natural resources, and the maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.

The Strategy aims to:

  • Phase out chemicals posing an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment as soon as possible.
  • Reduce as far as possible the risks posed by chemicals that are essential in our everyday lives, thus finding a balance between protecting health and the environment and retaining the socio-economic benefits that many chemicals provide.

Make full information publicly available about the environmental and health risks of chemicals.

Scope of the Chemicals Strategy

The Strategy deals with:

  • risks to the environment and to human health through environmental exposure to commercially available chemicals;
  • the commercial production and use of such chemicals; and
  • measures relating to controls on production and use.

The Strategy does not deal with:

  • chemicals covered by positive approval procedures for pesticides, biocides and human and veterinary medicines;
  • exposure to chemicals in the workplace;
  • transport of dangerous chemicals or major accident hazards;
  • chemicals added to food during processing; or
  • measures relating to controls on emissions of chemicals to the environment.

Key elements of the Strategy are:

  • A precautionary approach-bringing forward chemicals for priority review and beginning the risk reduction process even if full scientific evidence is not yet available.
  • Voluntary agreements with industry to reduce the risks posed by chemicals to the environment and human health. Where these are not satisfactory, the Government will consider action at the national or European level.
  • A new Chemicals Stakeholder Forum involving representatives of all those groups with an interest in the impact of chemicals on the environment and human health - to advise on the selection and assessment of chemicals of concern and on industry's risk management strategies.
    The Chemicals Stakeholder Forum was established in 2000.

View the UK Chemicals Strategy, including a foreword by the Minister of State for the Environment, Michael Meacher MP. Note that the strategy is now some three years old, and some areas are now out of date, in particular, EU and International policy. Up to date information on these areas is contained within the relevant sections of this website.

Page last modified: 10 May 2006
Page published: 4 December 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs