Zhodnocení nařízení REACH jako nástroje pro snižování environmentálních a zdravotních rizik v rámci nakládání s nebezpečnými látkami.

Abstract

The REACH regulation is the current legislative tool of risk management of dangerous substances. The aim of the regulation is to increase the protection of the environment and human health. During the preparation, development and implementation, the regulation was followed by wide controversial discussions and evaluation studies focused on its effectivity for human health, the environment, its impact on the industry and competitiveness etc… The main aim of this thesis is to evaluate how much the REACH regulation has increased the protection for human health and the environment compared with previous regulation laws and how effectively. Therefore, new evaluation criteria were established to evaluate the regulation. Among these criteria belong the principles, structure and elements of general risk management. Based on the evaluation the most critical tool of regulation REACH was identified as socioeconomic analysis which in this thesis has demanded special attention. The regulation fulfils most of the principles of risk management except the principle of integration where it was identified that the regulation is not implemented into all relevant law related to chemical substances. The fulfilment of risk management structure wasn’t possible to evaluate because the implementation is still in progress. The main mechanisms of risk management process are set up within the elements. Problematic aspects were identified as the tools for continual improvement within the identification of new hazards, for example nanomaterials. Other problematic aspects were identified within the effectivity of some important elements of the risk management tools, specifically within the socioeconomic analysis and the evaluation of public health costs caused by the toxic substances. These pitfalls of regulation REACH should be given special attention and addressed in order for regulation REACH to be truly effective. Nevertheless, it can be stated that regulation REACH is an effective tool of risk management compared to previous system.