§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government conduct research designed to discover the possible environmental effects of all new chemical compounds (i) known to be entering the environment and (ii) upon commencement of production with a view to their inclusion on either black or grey lists of the Oslo commission, Paris commission or the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNew chemicals are subject to the provisions of the Notification of New Substances264W Regulations 1982. These implement European Community directive 79/831/EEC which requires manufacturers or importers to submit a package of information and technical data on new substances prior to placing them on the market in the European Community. The information submitted covers environmental effects and the onus is on the notifier to carry out the appropriate tests to get the information required to satisfy the competent authority (the Health and Safety Executive and my Department acting jointly). It is not necessary for the Government to commission research, therefore. The information submitted is assessed by my Department to establish the potential environmental hazards of the notified substance. If the assessment of a substance showed that it met the criteria laid down by the Oslo or Paris commissions or by the European Community, this could lead to a recommendation that the substance be included on the black or grey lists.