The Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement (Forum) is a network of authorities responsible for the enforcement of the REACH, CLP and PIC regulations in the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Last December Forum publised a document on strategies and minimum criteria for enforcement of Chemical Regulations.
This high level document provides a framework for developing national strategies for provisions set out under the chemical legislation whose enforcement activities are coordinated by the Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement (Forum), namely Regulations (EC) No. 1907/2006 (REACH), (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP), (EU) No. 649/2012 (PIC) and (EU) No. 528/2012 (BPR).
Since the Regulations lay out a complex set of requirements for the management of chemicals, their successful implementation requires good cooperation, coordination and exchange of information between the competent and enforcement authorities in the Member States, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Commission in all matters regarding implementation and enforcement.
In order to confirm that duty holders comply with these Regulations, Member States are required to apply effective monitoring and control measures. These measures should be planned, carried out and their results should be reported and if necessary, followed up. The Member States are also required to set up an appropriate framework for penalties with a view to imposing effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties for non-compliance to avoid compromising the objectives of these Regulations.
Therefore, a strategy is required at a national level, which defines the administrative framework for their implementation and the Member State bodies which are responsible for that implementation and the enforcement of the Regulations.
The ECHA Forum provides for exchange of information on, and coordination of the activities related to the enforcement of the Regulations detailed above. It coordinates a network of Member States’ authorities responsible for the enforcement of these Regulations.
Source: ECHA and acces the document.