Archive:Chemicals production statistics

Data from June 2009, most recent data: Further Eurostat information, Main tables and Database.

Since June 2007, REACH – the new European Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals – is in force. The major objective of REACH is to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment, including promotion of alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances as well as the free circulation of substances on the internal market while enhancing competitiveness and innovation in the European Union (EU) chemical industry.

Eurostat has developed a baseline study and is providing statistics and indicators for the assessment of the effectiveness of REACH.

Main statistical findings

Figure 1: Production volume of toxic chemicals, EU-15 and EU-25

Between 1996 and 2007 the total production of chemicals grew by 22 % (EU-15). The production of chemicals classified as toxic increased by 18 % between 1996 and 2005 and decreased slightly (-3%) in 2006 / 07. Over the last 12 years statistics highlight the steady growth of total chemicals production volume.

The share of toxic chemicals in the total production is around 58% in EU-15 and EU-25 in 2007. The absolute production volumes of carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic CMR chemicals remained stable at around 33 million tonnes (EU-15) and 36 million tonnes (EU-25).

Statistics available from 2004 onwards show that the 10 new Member States produce only around 10% of all toxic chemicals in EU-25 (Data for Bulgaria and Romania are not available yet). However, an in-depth analysis shows a steady growth of toxic chemicals production in these countries: +18%, with a strong increase for CMR chemicals (+33%). The share of toxic chemicals in the total production increased from 55% to 61% between 2004 and 2007.

The coming years will show if the trend to a relative decoupling of toxic chemicals production from the growth of total output and GDP can be confirmed.

Data sources and availability

Eurostat has developed a production index of toxic chemicals, broken down into five toxicity classes. The indicator presents the trend in aggregated production volumes of chemicals which have been classified as toxic substances according to EU legislation.

This indicator monitors progress in shifting production from the most toxic chemicals to less toxic classes and addresses an important objective of REACH: to reduce risks by substitution of hazardous by less hazardous substances. The indicator does not provide information on the risk from the use of chemicals: production and consumption are not synonymous with exposure, as some chemicals are handled in closed systems, or as intermediates in controlled supply chains. The toxicity classes, beginning with the most dangerous, are:

carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR-chemicals);
chronic toxic chemicals;
very toxic chemicals;
toxic chemicals
chemicals classified as harmful.

The indicator is also published as a sustainable development indicator within the theme of public health.

Production volumes are extracted from Prodcom (statistics on the production of manufactured goods) and are aggregated to the five classes according to their toxicity. EU-15 data covers the years from 1995 to 2007, for 2004 to 2007 data for EU-25 is available.

Context

The sixth environment action programme (sixth EAP) requires a complete overhaul of European Union (EU) policy on chemicals management. Since June 2007, REACH – the new European Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals – is in force. The major objective of REACH is to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment, including promotion of alternative methods for the assessment of hazards of substances as well as the free circulation of substances on the internal market while enhancing competitiveness and innovation in the EU chemical industry.

REACH will increase knowledge in relation to the hazardous properties of chemicals. It is expected to enhance the communication and implementation of conditions of safe use in supply chains and the substitution of dangerous substances by less dangerous ones. Through different types of measures REACH is expected to lead to a decrease in risks to human health and the environment.

The REACH baseline study developed by Eurostat provides a set of indicators that will monitor the effectiveness of REACH.

Further Eurostat information

Publications

The REACH baseline study - Statistics in focus, June 2009

The REACH baseline study - Methodologies and working papers, June 2009

Main tables

Sustainable development indicators, see:

Indicators

Public health

Sub-theme: DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

9. Index of production of toxic chemicals, by toxicity class (QP)