Cefic, Japan propose regulatory cooperation on chemicals

Cefic and the Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA) have drafted a set of priorities for regulators to consider for future cooperation on chemicals regulations. The initiative follows the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force in February last year. Annual chemicals trade between the two is valued at €11 billion. Enhanced regulatory cooperation would maintain high levels of protection for human health and the environment, Cefic and JCIA say in a joint draft paper released in January. The "more efficient interaction" of different regulatory regimes will also promote resource and cost savings, it adds. The most effective and efficient approach to sound chemicals management is through a combination of transparent science and risk-based regulations and voluntary industry initiatives, the paper says. These include Responsible Care and the Global Product Strategy (GPS).