Format for the submission of data and information under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 on persistent organic pollutants
A- Annual report ONCONTROL ON PRODUCTION, PLACING ON THE MARKET (Article 12(2))
SECTION I: GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Member State: Sweden
2. Name and title of contact officer:
Ms. Maria Delvin
Senior Adviser
3. Full name of the institution:
Swedish Chemicals Agency
4. Mailing address:
P.O. Box 2
SE-17213 SUNDBYBERG
SWEDEN
5. Telephone number:
+46 8 51941270
6. Fax number:
+46 8735 7698
7. E-mail address:
8. Date of the report: 20 May 2010
SECTION II: CONTROL ON PRODUCTION, PLACING ON THE MARKET
1. Production of substances listed under Annex I or IIto Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 (hereinafter "Annex I or II")
1.1. Year of the report: 2009
1.2. Has any of the chemicals listed in Annex I or II been produced in your Member State during the period covered by this report? (Yes/No) No
1.2.1 If the answer to question 1.2 is "Yes", please specify the name of the substance(s) and the corresponding volume(s) produced (in kg).
2. Placing on the market of substances listed under Annex I or II
2.1. Year of the report: 2009
2.2. Has any of the chemicals listed in Annex I or II been placed on the market in your Member State or exported from your Member State during the period covered by this report? (Yes/No) No
2.2.1 If the answer to question 2.2 is "Yes", please specify the name of the substance(s) and the corresponding volume(s) exported and/or placed on the market (in kg). In case of export or import, please specify the exporting or importing country(ies).
B- TRIAnnual report on the application of Regulation(EC) No 850/2004 (Articles 12(1) and 12(3)).
SECTION I: GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Member State: Sweden
2. Name and title of contact officer:
Ms. Maria Delvin,Senior Adviser
3. Full name of the institution:
Swedish Chemicals Agency
4. Mailing address:
P.O. Box 2
SE-17213 SUNDBYBERG, SWEDEN
5. Telephone number:
+46 8 5194 1270
6. Fax number:
+46 8735 7698
7. E-mail address:
8. Date of the report: 20 May 2010
SECTION II: STOCKPILES
1. Are there in your Member Stateany notified stockpiles of any substance listed in Annex I or II and the use of which is permitted?(Yes/No) No
1.1. If the answer to question 1 is "Yes", please, specify the name of the substance(s). For each specified substance, specify for each stock the year in which it was identified, its nature, its content (% or mg/kg), its volume (kg), its location and the measures taken to manage it.
2. Are there in your Member Stateany notified stockpiles of any substance listed in Annex I or II and the use of which is not permitted?(Yes/No)No
2.1 If the answer to question 2 is "Yes", please, specify the name of the substance(s). For each specified substance, specify for each stock the year in which it was identified, its nature, its content (% or mg/kg), its volume (kg), its location and the measures taken to manage it.
SECTION III: RELEASE REDUCTION, MINIMISATION AND ELIMINATION
1. Has your Member Statedeveloped an action plan on the substances listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) N° 850/2004 (hereinafter "Annex III") ?(Yes/No)Yes
1.1. If the answer to question 1 is "No", please specify why.
1.2. If the answer to question 1 is "Yes", please, specify the name of the substance(s) for which you have release data. For each specified substance, specify for which compartment (i.e., air, water, land) you have release data. For each specified compartment, give the release in gTEQ/year (WHO-TEF[1]2005)or in kg/year.
See tables 1 and 2 below
2. Has your Member Statedeveloped measures in order to identify sources of substances listed in Annex III?(Yes/No) Yes
2.1. If the answer to question 2 is "Yes", please describe the measures developed.
Inventories have been carried out within the sectors of the ferrous and non ferrous metal industry, pulp and paper industry and waste incineration. Studies have also been performed in order to characterise and evaluate the relative importance of long range (atmospheric) transport of these contaminants. Pattern analysis has been developed in order to achieve a preliminary identification of individual sources.
An inventory is in place of sites where potentially contaminating activities are taking place or have taken place. The identification has been carried out sector wise focusing on different industrial sectors which potentially could contaminate soil, waters and sediments The identification procedure has been based on a surveys carried out by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, on which industrial sectors (activities) that should be included in the assessment (Naturvårdsverket report 4393, 1995 (in Swedish)). This work covers all potential pollutants and hence also POPs in the Stockholm Convention.
3. Has your Member Statedeveloped measures in order to characterisesources of substances listed in Annex III?(Yes/No) Yes
3.1. If the answer to question 3 is "Yes", please describe the measures developed.
Industrial sources have been characterised in Sweden since years back. In Sweden, the permitting process of industrial installations includes an environmental impact assessment. When necessary, this environmental impact assessment also includes measurements of pollutants released. The permitting process also includes an assessment of what is BAT and an undertaking of BAT-measures to reduce formation and releases of pollutants whilst considering what is economically feasible.
An inventory with identification of 80000 potentially contaminates sites is in place. Inventories of actual risks at the potential sites, including risk classification (simplified risk assessment) are ongoing. The inventory work is carried out according to a method provided by the Swedish EPA (Naturvårdsverket Report 5053 Methods for inventories of contaminated sites, 2002 (in English))
4. Has your Member Statedeveloped measures in order to minimisesources of substances listed in Annex III?(Yes/No) Yes
4.1. If the answer to question 4 is "Yes", please describe the measures developed.
Primary sources:In Sweden has an environmental legislation that requires the use of BAT as long as not unreasonable. This legislation also applies to sources of substances listed in Annex III and is for example used in permitting situations. This approach has resulted in concrete measures to prevent and reduce releases from the industrial sectors.
There are however some sectors where further measures to reduce releases may be necessary. One example is the metallurgical sector, where there is still reasonable scope to reduce releases to air, in particular of dioxins. Another area in which further measures may be necessary is the burning of bio-fuels and other alternative fuels.
Secondary sources:Studies of the contributions of secondary and diffuse sources to overall environmental loadings of POPs, especially those that are directly connected to exposure of humans and wildlife are undertaken. Sweden is also participating at the global level to support the work to achieve the objectives of the Stockholm Convention.
Households: Information and guidance are key instruments, alongside general regulations and their enforcement. Above all, it is necessary to create an awareness of the importance of the selection of optimal fuel and good practices, and that these individual choices, make major difference to emissions. There are information campaigns done by central agencies and municipalities.
Contaminated sites (soil, waters and sediments). Extensive work to investigate (including assessing the risks) and (when needed in order to reduce risks, remediate contaminated sites in Sweden is undertaken.
Long-range transboundary air pollution:Projects are ongoing to estimate the loading from long-range atmospheric transport. Sweden also contributes to international efforts. See also section VII, Technical Assistance.
SECTION IV: IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
1. Has your Member Statedeveloped a National Implementation Plan (NIP) in accordance withArticle 7 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants? (Yes/No)Yes
1.1. If the answer to question 1 is "No", please explain why.
1.2. If the answer to question 1 is "Yes", please, indicate the date(s) on which it has been communicated to the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention, to the Commission and to the other Member States.
May 2006
1.2.1. Did you give the public early and effective opportunities to participate in the development of your NIP?(Yes/No) Yes
1.2.1.1. If the answer to question 1.2.1 is "No", please explain why.
1.2.1.2. If the answer to question 1.2.1 is "Yes", please describe briefly how.
A reference group with all relevant stakeholders was created and invited to comment on the draft at three occasions.
SECTION V: MONITORING
1. Has your Member Stateestablished a monitoring programme on the presence of dioxins, furans and PCBs in the environment? (Yes/No) Yes
1.1. If the answer to question 1 is "No", please explain why.
1.2.If the answer to question 1 is "Yes", please specify the name of the substance(s) for which you have monitoring data.
For each specified substance and each monitoring programme, specify the period and objectives of the monitoring programme, the type of sampling point (e.g., hot spots, accidents, background situation), the geographical location, the analytical method applied, the compartments in which the substance was sampled, the values found (mean, median, maximum, minimum, number of samples) and how to access these data.
The monitoring programmes that exist do not cover all the substances covered by the POPs regulation. The substances excluded have been banned for a number of years and many of them cannot be found in Sweden. Screening for mirex, for example, was carried out in 2004, but no detectable levels could be observed in the Swedish environment.
The substances covered by regular monitoring activities are PCBs, DDT, PCDD/PCDF and HCB. Monitoring data is available from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Aldrin and dieldrin are covered by the pesticide monitoring programme. Aldrin has been detected in 3 samples out of 1830, with a maximum concentration of 1.2 g/l; dieldrin in 2 samples out of 1832, with a maximum concentration of 1.6 g/l
Table 3:Summary of dioxin measurements included in the existing environmental monitoring programme.
DIOXINSMeasurement/matrix / Frequency / Remarks
Concentrations in sludge / Annually at 7 sewage plants / Data available from 2004
Concentrations in fish / Annually at 3 sites / Data available from about 1990
Concentrations in top predators (guillemot eggs) / Annually at 1 site / Data available from about 1970
Concentrations in human breast milk / Every 2 years at 1 location / Data available from 1996.
Dioxin measurements included in programme from 2004
Apart from the measurements in human milk currently being carried out in the framework of the Environmental Monitoring Programme, there are earlier time series of such data from breast milk banks, begun in 1972 (dioxins) and 1967 (PCBs).
Freshwater fish are not analysed for PCBs and HCB on an annual basis at present, but only at less frequent intervals. However, biological material is collected every year from 18 lakes and placed in a specimen bank. This material can if necessary be used to measure and perform retrospective analyses of dioxin levels, and to continue the annual measurements of PCBs and HCB in fish previously performed at certain sites.
Table 4.Summary of measurements of PCBs and HCB included in the existing environmental monitoring programme.
PCBs and HCBMeasurement/matrix / Frequency / Remarks
Long-range transport / PCBs measured annually at 3 sites / Data available from about 1995 on
Concentrations in sludge / PCBs and HCB measured annually at 7 sewage plants / Data available from 2004 on
Concentrations in fish / PCBs and HCB measured annually at 9 sites / Data available from about 1990 on
Concentrations in common mussels / PCBs and HCB measured annually at 2 sites / Data available from about 1980 on
Concentrations in top predators (guillemot eggs) / PCBs and HCB measured annually at 1 site / Data available from about 1970
Sediment survey / Every 5–10 years (frequency not determined): PCBs, HCB, dioxins / First undertaken in 2004
Concentrations in human breast milk / PCBs and HCB measured every 2 years at 1 location / Data available from 1996
In addition to the National Environmental Monitoring Programme, various regional programmes are being undertaken, on varying scales. Extensive monitoring is for example being conducted in the Lakes Vättern, Vänern and Mälaren.
Table 5:Measured levels of certain POPs in some of the matrices used in the national monitoring programme (2004). Karlsö
DDT / PCB / PCDD/ PCDF / HCBHerring muscle / <0.4 g/g lw / <0.2 g/g lw / <50 pg/g lw / <0.05 g/g lw
Cod liver / <0.2 g/g lw / <1 g/g lw / - / <0.02 g/g lw
Common mussel / <0.15 g/g lw / <0.1 g/g lw / - / <0.005 g/g lw
Guillemot eggs / <50 g/g lw / <50 g/g lw / <1 ng/g lw / <1.5 g/g lw
Human breast milk / <100 ng/g lw (DDE) / <40 ng/g lw (CB153) / ~200 pg/g lw / <30 ng/g lw
LW=lipid weight
n=20–40 for human milk
n=approx 40/year for other POPs
Figure 1. Map showing current stations in the national monitoring programme relevant to POPs.
Circles – marine, Triangles – air monitoring, Square – Breast milk monitoring
SECTION VI: INFORMATION EXCHANGE
1. Has your Member Stateestablished an information exchange mechanism? (Yes/No) Yes
1.1. If the answer to question 1 is "No", please explain why.
1.2. If the answer to question 1 is "Yes" and if the information exchange mechanism is not part of your NIP, please describe it.
2. Has your Member Statetaken any measure to promote and facilitate awareness programmes with regard to persistent organic pollutants? (Yes/No) Yes
2.1. If the answer to question 2 is "No", please explain why.
2.2.If the answer to question 2 is "Yes", please describe the measures taken.
An in-depth evaluation about the quality objective and the action Strategy for Non-Toxic, Resource-Saving Environmental Life Cycles was prepared in 2008. See Sweden's Environmental Objectives: No Time to Lose, section 6.2,
The objective of the Stockholm Convention is part of a Swedish environmental quality objective “A non-toxic environment” and the Strategy for Non-Toxic, Resource-Saving Environmental Life Cycles.The aims of the Strategy are to enhance knowledge and information about chemical substances and phase out those of particular concern (including POPs); reduce risks posed by the use of other chemicals; improve resource use; and issue guidelines on, as well as taking other measures concerning, recycling of waste and residues.
The Swedish EPA coordinates implementation of the strategy according to instructions from the Environmental Objectives Council. This work is carried out jointly with the Swedish Chemicals Agency, the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, the National Food Administration and the Geological Survey of Sweden. The working group, which meets regularly, has held a series of workshops with representatives of government agencies (including those mentioned above), businesses and industrial organisations.The expected outcome is better coordination, by the agencies responsible, of the proposed means of achieving the Swedish environmental quality objectives. Actions taken must be balanced and consistent: those aimed at specific environmental objectives should not be such as to impede the attainment of any others.
The Dietary recommendations on food item such as fatty fish that could contain elevated levels of POPs or organic mercury, given by the National food Administration (NFA) since the 1980s have been reviewed during 2007 and can be found on the NFA website in several languages. In 2007 a report (12/2007) was published covering the project Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption initiated in 2004 with the aim of studying various methods for assessing the risks and benefits associated with the consumption of fish was published by the NFA. The project studied methods for risk-benefit assessment and nutritional evaluation that considered the health effects associated with certain organic environmental pollutants (dioxins/dioxin-like PCBs) and methyl mercury, and certain nutrients.
3. Has your Member Statetaken any measure to promote and facilitate the provision of public information with regards to persistent organic pollutants (Yes/No) Yes
3.1. If the answer to question 3 is "No", please explain why.
3.2.If the answer to question 3 is "Yes", please describe the measures taken.
The consumers get information about hazardous chemicals via labelling and if necessary supplementing information which the producers and importers have to present when marketing chemicals.
The websites of the Swedish Chemicals agency (KemI) and the Swedish EPA are continuously updated to providerelevant information on activities in the area of chemicals management and significant data on chemicals in both Swedish and English. During 2007-2009 KemI has regularly produced information, both on its website and in leaflet form and as news letters,about the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, e.g. manufacturers andimporters, downstream users and regional and local supervisory authorities, with regardto sound management of chemicals.. POPs management is an integral part of national chemicals management.
KemI invites regularly representatives for industrial branches, environmental organisations and the research sector to inform them about relevant developments within the EU and in International agreements, including the EU-regulation on POPs and the progress of the Stockholm Convention.
4. Has your Member Statetaken any measure to promote and facilitate the training of workers, scientists, educators and technical and managerial personnel with regard to persistent organic pollutants (Yes/No) Yes
4.1. If the answer to question 4 is "No", please explain why.
4.2.If the answer to question 4 is "Yes", please describe the measures taken.
For the substances currently covered by the EU-regulation, specific training to workers is principally not needed. The employers have the legal obligation to label chemical’s used in the working places, to ensure that Material Data Sheets are available as well as appropriate safety instructions, for the kind of work carried out. This obligation is promoted by inspections.
PRIO is a web-based tool (in Swedish and English, developed and maintained by the Swedish Chemicals Agency,intended to be used to preventively reduce risks to human health and the environment from chemicals. The aim of PRIO is to facilitate in the risk assessment so that people who work as environmental managers, purchasers and product developers can identify the need for risk reduction. To achieve this PRIO provides a guide for decision-making that can be used in setting risk reduction priorities.
The target groups for PRIO are primarily Swedish actors but also include chemical suppliers to Sweden in other countries. PRIO also provides a source of knowledge for environmental and health inspectors, environmental auditors, risk analysts and those who in some other way can influence the use and handling of chemicals.Linked to PRIO are a number of environmental and health criteria, including PBT for the substances to be prioritised in the risk reduction work, as well as a database containing examples of such substances.