Working Subgroup for Chemicals

The EU chemical legislation includes 7 regulation/directives. Albanian legislation is partially aligned with this sub-chapter requirements. The framework law on chemicals management was adopted in March 2016, but several pieces of secondary legislation are pending.

• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – (REACH)- The purpose of this Regulation is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment, including the promotion of alternative methods for assessment of hazards of substances, as well as the free circulation of substances on the internal market while enhancing competitiveness and innovation.

This Regulation is based on the principle that it is for manufacturers, importers and downstream users to ensure that they manufacture, place on the market or use such substances that do not adversely affect human health or the environment. Its provisions are underpinned by the precautionary principle.

• Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – (CLP)-ensures a high level of protection of human health and the environment as well as the free movement of substances, mixtures and articles.
• Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 concerning the export and import of hazardous chemicals–(PIC)–implements the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the ‘Convention’); promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts in the international movement of hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm; contribute to the environmentally sound use of hazardous chemicals.
• Council Directive 87/217/EEC of 19 March 1987 on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestosis aiming at preventing andreducing pollution by asbestos in the interests of the protection of human health andthe environment,limiting asbestos emissions into the air, asbestos discharges into the aquatic environment, improving asbestos waste management.
• Regulation (EU) 2017/852 – mercury- establishes measures and conditions concerning the use and storage of and trade in mercury, mercury compounds and mixtures of mercury, and the manufacture and use of and trade in mercury-added products, and the management of mercury waste, in order to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
• Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 improves the free movement of biocidal products within the Union while ensuring a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment. Particular attention should be paid to the protection of vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children.
• Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 establishes measures for the protection of animals used for scientific or educational purposes.