- To now be able to closely follow the decision-making process in the EU, we can directly contribute to the discussions with scientific knowledge and continue to ensure that our research is relevant for policy development in the EU, says Christina Rudén at Stockholm University. Photo: Eva Dahlin
 

CARACAL is an expert group advising the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency, ECHA, on questions related to REACH, the regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals and CLP, the regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures.

Prominent organisations

In the expert group, national authorities in charge of implementing chemical legislation under REACH and CLP are represented as members. The Swedish Chemicals Agency, KEMI is the representative from Sweden.

A number of stakeholders from European umbrella organisations for e.g. industry, NGOs, consumers and trade unions have observer seats. And now also a representative from the scientific field.

The expert group’s next meeting is 17-18 November. Documents for the meeting are available on the CIRCABC website. 

Academic representative

Hanna Sjölund, Advocacy and Analysis Officer at the Baltic Sea Centre. Photo: Henrik Hamrén
 

- The fact that Christina Rudén and Stockholm University are selected for the expert group is a great opportunity, says Hanna Sjölund, Advocacy and Analysis Officer at the Baltic Sea Centre. It enables us, as the only university in the group, to contribute to European chemicals policy, directly from the side of academia. That this happens at the same moment as the Commission presents its Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, referred to as the biggest reform of chemical regulations in two decade, is a golden opportunity.

Unique working method

At the Baltic Sea Centre excellence in research, communication and policy experts are combined in the daily work. This way of working has now led to this unique position in an important expert group. To manoeuvre the EU bureaucracy is an expert field in its own.

Recently the Baltic Sea Centre gathered the chemical scientists at Stockholm University to communicate the relevant science regarding the new Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The Baltic Sea Centre has the assignment to support and strengthen the university´s significant marine research. Acting as a link between science and policy, we synthesise and distribute scientific results to the right stakeholders in society.