Professor Christina Rudén from the Department of Environmental Science has been elected member of the European Commission’s high-level expert group whose mission is to help implement the new EU’s chemicals strategy for Sustainability published on 14 October 2020. She is one of eight representatives from the international scientific community.
The expert group, officially known as High Level Roundtable on the implementation of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, consists of 28 representatives from the research community, non-profit organizations and companies – both chemical manufacturers and users. In addition, the group will be joined by representatives from the current leadership, as well as the international organizations OECD, WHO and UNEP.
“This assignment will be very exciting. It is a completely new group, with several good people I know from before,” says Christina Rudén who researches into environmental toxins and legislation.
It was the Baltic Sea Centre’s external analyst Marie Löf who drew attention to the Commission’s call for chemical experts. Löf follows the EU’s work on chemical issues closely to spot opportunities where research at Stockholm University can be applied to influence policy and legislation.
Marie Löf. Photo Niklas Björling/SU
“Christina Rudén has extensive experience in EU chemicals legislation and has recently been elected to another expert group, CARACAL, which acts as an advisor to the European Commission on chemicals. It is fantastic that Christina and Stockholm University have been elected into the European Commission’s high-level expert group. The task will provide an important insight into the work with the chemicals strategy and an opportunity to influence it in a direction that is positive for health and the environment,” says Marie Löf.
The mission of the expert group
The group’s mission is to discuss the ways in which the objectives of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability can be met and to monitor their implementation in dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
“It is important that the research community is included in such a process to ensure that science is weighed in the decisions that are made,” says Christina Rudén.
Finally, the group will also discuss ways to support the transition to safe chemicals and a non-toxic environment, as well as how to make current legislation on chemicals work better.
“We are expected to raise important issues about the impact of chemicals on the environment and health, exchange experiences and good examples and identify obstacles to good chemical handling,” says Christina Rudén.
The first meeting will be held on 5 May.