§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the controls contained in the proposed EU chemicals regulation on the use of persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. [158953]
§ Alun MichaelThe European Commission proposes that substances of very high concern shall not be used unless an authorisation for that use has been granted to the user or supplier. Substances of very high concern are defined as carcinogens, mutagens and substances toxic to the reproductive system (CMRs) categories 1 or 2; substances which are persistent, bioaccumulative and 1163W toxic (PBT); very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB); or substances, such as those having endocrine disrupting properties or those having PBT and vPvB properties which do not meet the above criteria and which are identified as causing serious and irreversible effects to humans or the environment on a case by case basis.
The Government support the aims of the authorisation process to ensure that the risks from substances of high concern are properly controlled and that these substances may be eventually replaced by suitable substances or technologies with the aim of reducing risks to human health and the environment. The Government welcome the inclusion of substances meeting the PBT criteria as being subject to the authorisation procedure.