News Call for Papers on "Chemical Risk Management"

Source Joanne Lloyd
Release date 10/01/2003
Contributor bulanmir

Chemical risks, from industrial production

"Greener Management International"

invites contributions for a special issue

on the topic of "Chemical Risk Management".

Rationale

Chemical risks, from industrial production to retailed products, are about to meet their greatest challenge to date: a new EU chemicals policy which has the potential to impact all sizes of enterprises in many industry sectors throughout the world. In the process, this new policy is likely to radically change the face of risk management.

However, the implications of the EU policy to business and trade are not fully understood. The policy calls for the generation of data on some 30,000 existing chemical substances through a 'no data, no market' approach. But even submittal of adequate data by producers and downstream users of a certain chemical or product does not guarantee a market; it just avoids a blanket ban. Production, use or marketing of a chemical deemed to be of 'very high concern' must be authorised, based on socioeconomic considerations and whether enterprises can demonstrate its safe use throughout its life-cycle. All other chemicals face possible restrictions based on similar criteria.

Apart from the direct costs to industry, the macro-economic effects of product rationalisation (the cessation of certain products), time taken for decision-making and general uncertainty in the new regime will affect the availability and use of chemicals throughout the world. (Compared to other global regions, Western Europe is the largest producer, importer and exporter of chemicals.) Furthermore, implementation of the policy is likely to create a significant challenge to existing national and international management of chemical risks.

Changes in policy can create new product markets and foster innovation. Communication through the supply chain can help chemical producers better understand chemical use, enabling suppliers to better meet their customer needs. Society enjoys many benefits from chemicals, yet every stage of a chemical's life has the potential to cause harm. Risk management decision-making is increasingly becoming a dynamic stakeholder process, but what are the most effective and efficient ways to control chemical risks? The anticipated EU regulation on chemicals provides an example of how regulators seek to address such issues.

This Special Issue will examine all aspects of risk management relating to chemical policies. This includes regulatory systems, control options and enterprise activities, as well as specific industry responses to regulatory change. It seeks to promote the exchange of this variety of experience between top-level management, environmental managers, governments and government agencies, NGOs and international bodies.

Coverage

The topics that the Special Issue seeks to address include, but are not limited to:

  • How do countries differ in chemicals policy, regulation, monitoring and enforcement? What is the experience of different policies and regulatory systems? How do these approaches to risk management account for variation between enterprises, industry sectors and socioeconomic considerations? What are the causes of these differences?
  • What has been the industry response towards national chemicals policies? Is there evidence for industry relocation as a result of chemicals policy? To what extend does chemicals policy in developing countries differ from such policies in the industrialised world? What have been the environmental and economic implications of different regulatory systems on chemicals policy?
  • What control instruments are most effective for successful chemical risk management? What forms of regulatory, economic and voluntary measures are most appropriate for the control of certain chemical risks? On what is the effectiveness of such instruments dependent?
  • What are the current strengths and weaknesses in chemical risk management? Limited use of safety-data sheets, cases of non-compliance and a lack of enforcement can be problematic in both developed and developing countries. At the same time pollution registers and industry programmes such as Responsible Care are improving chemical risk management. How can the resources of enterprises, trade associations, governments, national authorities and international bodies be best used to continue to improving current chemical risk management practices?
  • What effects might the new EU chemicals policy have on the worldwide production and use of chemicals? The new EU policy has many implications at national, EU and international levels. What are its anticipated effects on business, trade and use of chemicals?
  • To what extent is harmonisation desirable or achievable at the EU or international level? The new EU chemicals policy is leading to a larger divide between risk management in the EU and the rest of the world (particularly the USA). Furthermore, differences in EU Member State policies (including the enlargement countries) are becoming more pronounced. Is the new EU chemicals policy compatible with the policy of other countries such as Japan and the USA? What has been the effect of policy harmonisation between countries on enterprises inside or outside harmonised regimes?
  • How are new tools and schemes being used for chemical risk management? Many companies and regulators are taking an increasingly holistic approach to chemical risks by moving from end-of-pipe controls to integrated product policy that takes account of the life-cycles of chemicals. New schemes for risk management, such as chemical leasing and extended producer responsibility, are evolving. How are these tools and schemes changing chemical risk management?
  • How is chemical risk management incorporated into existing environmental management systems such as EMAS and ISO 14001? Environmental management systems provide guidelines and incentives for enterprises to improve their environmental performance. How are health and environmental concerns arising from chemical risks better managed through such systems?

Contributions

Full papers are invited to be considered for publication in the journal Special Issue. Submissions should be between 4,000 and 6,000 words (for theoretical papers and broad empirical studies) and between 2,500 and 4,000 words (for case studies) and should follow the editorial guideline of "Greener Management International" which can be obtained from Greenleaf Publishing (www.greenleaf-publishing.com/gmi/contribu.htm). Submitted papers should make clear their relevance to business and managerial practice.

Schedule

To express initial interest, abstracts should be sent to both guest co-editors by e-mail or fax (e-mail and fax details included below). Abstracts should be max. 300 words long. Those whose submissions are felt suitable will be contacted subsequently and asked to submit full papers. It is intended that the Special Issue of "GMI" be published in Autumn 2003. The following deadlines apply:

Abstract submissions: 1 March 2003
Full paper submissions: 1 June 2003
Revised paper submissions: 5 July 2003

Joanne Lloyd
Chemical Industries Association
Kings Buildings
Smith Square
London SW1P 3JJ
lloydj@cia.org.uk
Fax. +44 (0)20 7834 8586

Steffen Erler
Centre for Environmental Strategy
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH
s.erler@surrey.ac.uk
Fax. +44 (0)1483 876 671

Please note that this information has expired.