Chemical Control Measures: Comparison of the Approaches in the EU and in the U.S. at Federal and State Level

Chemical Control Measures: Comparison of the Approaches in the EU and in the U.S. at Federal and State Level 
Robert Donkers; Environment Counsellor at the Delegation of the European Commission to India, Bhutan and Nepal in New Delhi

Chemical substances have a variety of indispensable applications in our daily life. Growing awareness of the environmental and health risks posed by chemicals has led to the development of legal provisions regulating chemicals production, processing and use. However, legislation can be based on different approaches and principles. This paper does not intend to make an exhaustive comparative analysis of the EU and U.S. chemical policies, but aims at giving an overview of and the differences between these policies. It also indicates which lessons can be drawn from experience at both sides of the Atlantic for the respective management frameworks.