ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the so-called chemical control laws, which affect the introduction of new chemicals into commerce as well as attempt to manage newly discovered risks of existing chemicals. In the major developed countries, laws to regulate chemicals used as drugs, food additives and pesticides were developed first due to public health, environmental concerns of these uses. The main objective of the law is to protect humans from exposure to dangerous substances in the environment and especially from dangerous substances that could enter the food chain. Toxicology staff and regulatory professionals play a key role in the Toxic Substances Control Act compliance efforts of a company that manufactures or processes industrial chemicals. Japanese requirements for the control of industrial chemicals have many important differences from the requirements in Europe and the US. European chemical companies and regulatory authorities are expected to cooperatively participate in the worldwide High Production Volume chemicals testing effort through the International Council of Chemical Associations.
