Regulation affecting chemists & chemists influencing regulation
More than ever, chemistry as a discipline is crucial to forming and enforcing regulations, particularly those that protect the environment and human health
Regulation, particularly originating from the European Union, also affects all of us who practice as chemists in some way. Regulations such as the European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) could affect the range of available chemicals in the future, while regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) of chemicals has introduced new ways of conveying hazards to those who work with chemicals daily.
Scientific advice in Europe
The formation of regulation is complex and subject to a host of external pressures and drivers. Scientific advice is an important part of this process and this is an area where we and our members have been active in trying to ensure policies are informed by scientific evidence. In practice, there are many different ways that scientific advice can inform the development of regulation and there has recently been a big change within the European Commission (EC). Under its current president, the EC has moved away from the model of using a chief scientific adviser to a new system, known as the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM). A key part of the SAM is a high level group of scientists that will provide scientific advice on specific policy issues, at the request of the EC.
Scientific advice is only part of the range of issues that influence regulation. Other key factors include political drivers, wider social attitudes and economic considerations, which can take on differing significance given the issue and its timing. For example, one of the first areas where the SAM high level group will provide advice to the EC is on the issue of CO2 emissions testing in vehicles, in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
Involving our members
Across the Royal Society of Chemistry we undertake a range of activities on regulation that draw together members with diverse expertise. This includes running events to bring together scientists working in fields that inform regulation, providing input into advisory committees and responding to consultations from UK and European bodies.
We are a member of the UK Chemical Stakeholder Forum, a group that provides advice to the UK government on ‘managing risks to the environment and to human health via the environment that may result from the production, distribution and use of chemicals’. With expertise from our members, we are able to provide input into areas such as the UK’s approach to international chemical management, through to guidance for SMEs on the 2018 REACH registration deadline. We also respond to consultations examining regulation that affects practising chemists. We are currently working on a response to the EC’s fitness check of chemicals regulation, which closes later this month. In developing our response, we have been seeking input from members who are affected by regulations like CLP, good laboratory practice (GLP) and the export and import of hazardous chemicals.
Later this year, we anticipate that the EC will consult on REACH and again we will look at how we can draw on our members’ experience to inform our response.
Interest groups in action
Last year, three of our interest groups, the Environmental Chemistry Group (ECG), the International Network of Environmental Forensics (INEF) and the Water Science Forum (WSF) held a joint meeting on Emerging Contaminants in Water and Soil.
The meeting examined the practical considerations for measuring and monitoring pollutants that may be subject to regulation in the near future. James Lymer, former chair of the ECG explains that: “Contaminants of emerging concern fall within the core considerations of environmental chemistry, from driving low level analytical techniques for substance detection to acquiring an understanding of their environmental transport and fate.”
The involvement of three groups in organising the event underscores the fact that many of the issues that are linked to regulation are complex and require the input of a range of specialists. Kevin Prior, Chair of the WSF adds: “The collaboration between the three groups showed that an issue which may be new to you may be well understood in other aspects of the environmental chemistry profession. This event also gave the opportunity to share experiences and solutions with people you may not otherwise interact with”.
Our Automation and Analytical Management Group (AAMG) have been running an annual meeting on air quality for 20 years. The meeting, Monitoring Ambient Air, covers topics such as monitoring vehicle emissions and in recent years has covered emerging topics such as particulate matter. By linking with colleagues in relevant external groups, the AAMG can ensure that the meeting reflects real-world air quality issues.
John Trigg, AAMG committee member explains: “By liaising with DEFRA’s air quality expert group, the most recent meeting on air quality monitoring provided an insight into a number of topical investigations, and facilitated greater integration with the wider air pollution science community.”
Last November, our Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division supported a workshop for researchers from the UK and USA who research the issue of unconventional oil and gas extraction. ESED’s support meant that UK chemists working on topics such as measuring fugitive emissions and potential water contamination could attend the meeting in Washington DC and share knowledge with American researchers working in similar areas. The workshop was also attended by representatives from the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Environment Agency, allowing direct interaction between the researchers, policy makers and regulators, as the UK considers the future of unconventional oil and gas extraction across the country.
These examples are a snapshot of some of the things our members are undertaking that help to inform the development and application of regulation. We want to make sure that our activities on regulation take account of the broad base of expertise across our community, helping to ensure greater impact from what we do.
Get involved
In June, we will be hosting a workshop for members with expertise and experience in different areas of regulation. If you are working in an area of regulation – either one of the areas discussed in this article or something different – and would like to get involved in our future activities in this area, then please get in touch.
Use the 'Get involved' link on this page ot send us a 50-word description of your current role, background and expertise, by Friday 20 May.