Chemicals

Defra's chemicals pages are a source of information on what the Government is doing to protect the environment - and, consequently, human health - from the risks posed by exposure to hazardous chemicals. At the same time, the Government aims to maximise the important socio-economic benefits that we rely on chemicals for.

Whether a chemical represents a hazard or not depends on its scientific properties. Defra's job is to manage the risks relating to such hazards, that is, the chances of a hazard leading to the harm of humans or the environment.

The chemicals we use are not just found in laboratories. They are all around us on an everyday basis. As well as occurring throughout nature, chemicals are in our clothes, our food, and are built into our homes. This is why the successful control of our use of chemicals is such an important goal for us.

News and developments

• 28 April 2006 – Consultation launched on a proposal for a Commission Directive on restrictions on the Marketing and Use of Mercury in certain measuring devices
• 2 March 2006 - Updated Government position on REACH and animal testing
• 14 February 2006 - UK Coordinated Chemical Risk Management Programme (UKCCRMP)
• 3 February 2006 - Risk Reduction Strategies published:
• Hexavalent Chromium (1.14 MB)
• Tetrachloroethylene (561 KB)
• Trichloroethylene (718 KB)
• 13 December 2005 - Political Agreement on REACH - Final Summary Text of Political Agreement (30 KB)

Advisory groups

• UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum

• Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances

• UK Dioxins Strategy Group

• UK Coordinated Chemical Risk Management Programme

Further information

The Government works with UK stakeholders to develop solutions that can be applied, at national level, to reduce the risk of chemicals damaging the environment. See our UK Chemicals Policy section.

Defra have an ongoing chemicals research programme carried out by external contractors. For more information, please visit specific chemicals issues, where a link to Defra's chemicals Consultancy Programme may be found.

The effect of chemicals on health and the environment is also very much a European and worldwide issue. The Government is very much involved in these areas:

• International Policy
• Future EU Policy
• Current EU Policy
• You will find some specific information about relevant chemicals in other areas of our website - see for example the sections on air or water quality, or radioactivity.
• Information specifially about pesticides is published by the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) - www.pesticides.gov.uk. Some older documents, previously published by the then DETR, are listed on our pesticides page.

Contacting Defra

If you want further information about chemicals that is not covered by these pages, you can contact us by email at:

• chemicals.strategy@defra.gsi.gov.uk