Study for the strategy for a non-toxic environment of the 7th Environment Action Programme : final report

The 7th Environment Action Programme (7th EAP), adopted in 2013 by the European Parliament and the Council, mandates the European Commission, inter alia, to develop by 2018 "a Union strategy for a non-toxic environment that is conducive to innovation and the development of sustainable substitutes including non-chemical solutions". This study supports the Commission with its development of the strategy by providing a comprehensive overview of the state of play and by identifying gaps and deficits in the current EU chemicals policy and legislative framework in relation to the following aspects: Substitution, including grouping of chemicals & measures to support substitution; Chemicals in products (articles) and non-toxic material cycles; The improved protection of children and vulnerable groups from harmful exposure to chemicals; Very persistent chemicals; Policy means, innovation and competitiveness; Programme on the development on new, non/less toxic substances; Early warning systems for examining chemical threats to human health and the environment. Each of the above-mentioned topics is the subject of a sub-study under the overall study which identifies improvement opportunities in relation to all seven sub-study areas with the ultimate goal of creating and maintaining a non-toxic environment that is free of exposures to minimise and eliminate all exposures to hazardous substances.