The Chemical Inspection Service cooperates with the Nordic and European authorities. Nordic cooperationThe Chemical Inspection Services in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark join together in the formal "Nordic Inspection Group" under the Nordic Council of Ministers' Nordic Chemical Group. The group works to set up and maintain a network of inspection service staff; to contribute jointly to selected inspection areas; and to coordinate Nordic efforts in cooperation with the rest of Europe. In recent years, the group has carried out joint campaigns on supervision within the following areas: • CMR-substances in consumer products • Classification and labelling of textile detergents • Classification and labelling of artist colours Read the report (on the website of the Nordic Council of Ministers)
In 2006 and 2007 a joint inspection campaign on the classification and labelling of car maintenance agents was implemented. In addition, the group prepared a report called "Analysis of the enforcement according to REACH" where a survey of the inspection tasks imposed on the EU member states by the entry into force of REACH.European cooperation
FORUM
The Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement (FORUM) coordinates a network of Member State authorities responsible for enforcement and has the task to:
The Forum is composed of members appointed by member States. The Forum meets 2 to 3 times a year. Working groups dealing with different areas are established.
CLEEN The authorities that inspect chemicals in Europe are cooperating on supervision of chemical substances and products in CLEEN (Chemical Legislation European Enforcement Network). The Network aims at strengthening cooperation among European chemical inspection services, thus improving the knowledge and understanding of and compliance with chemicals regulation. The Network also aims at making sure that manufacturers and importers operate under equal conditions in all countries. In recent years, the group has carried out joint campaigns on supervision within the following areas: • ECLIPS: Control of classification and labelling of chemical products. • EuroOzone: Control of ozone-depleting substances. • EuroCad: Control of cadmium in articles. • EuroAzo, that covers control of azo pigments in textiles. Reports on inspection campaigns are available at the CLEEN website.
RoHS
The Chemical Inspection Serivice participates actively in the RoHS Enforcement Network, which plans control campagins enforcing the RoHS directive. In 2009 the focus was on computers. In 2010 a joint campaign on control of electrical toys was conducted. More information about RoHS can be found in the Danish EPA fact sheet on Electrical and electronical equipment (RoHS).
PEMSAC
In the cosmetics area the Chemical Inspection Service participates in PEMSAC, the Platform of European Market Surveillance Authorities in Cosmetics. The aim of the network is to facilitate cooperation by:
The members of PEMSAC are the representatives of market surveillance authorities of all the Member States and they meet twice a year in plenary and in two technical groups dealing with market surveillance and analytical methods.
RAPEX
The Chemical Inspection Service receives warnings (notifications) from other EU Member States about dangerous chemical properties in cosmetics, toys and other product categories. Each EU Member State is obligated to notify the EU Commission if dangerous products are found. The system is called RAPEX, The RaPid Alert System fir Non-Food Products.
All products which are notified in the RAPEX system can be found on the EU-Commission RAPEX Website.
The website of other Nordic authorities:
Norway www.klif.no
Sweden www.kemi.se
Finland www.valvira.fi
Iceland www.ust.is