Benefit-Cost Analysis, Candidate list and chemical substitution

FRAM researcher Jessica Coria, Associate Professor at the Department of Economics participated in the 9th Annual Conference of the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis in March 15-17th 2017. She presented on the session entitled International Approaches to Analyzing Benefits and Costs of Chemical Risk Policies.

Jessica joined a round table discussion with Joe Devlin at Environment & Climate Change Canada, Matti Vainio at the European Chemicals Agency, and Nils-Axel Braathen at OECD.
An important objective of the European Chemicals Regulation REACH is to assure that the risks from substances of very high concern (SVHC) are properly controlled and that these substances are progressively replaced by suitable alternative substances or technologies where these are economically and technically viable. Among the policies implemented to achieve this target is the Candidate List, which gives advanced information to industry and other stakeholders about SVHC. It was introduced at the end of the year 2008, and today it includes more than 173 substances. Jessica’s presentation discussed the effects of the Candidate List on chemical production in Sweden of the substances listed, and how the existence of chemical substitutes speeds up the reduction in chemical production.

More information about the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis can be found here and information about the 9th annual meeting hosted by Georgetown University on March 15-17, 2017, Washington DC, United States here. (links will be open in new windows)