ABSTRACT
Environmental policy programmes are finding a new focus in the Netherlands: increasingly programmes are developed that deal with the environmental effects of the production, consumption, and waste activities around a product rather than with the effects of separate production processes. This development, which is also occurring in other European countries, coincides with the process of internationalisation that is currently changing the face of Europe. As this latter process is to a great extent focused on economic activities, it is important to analyse the mutual influence of both developments. This analysis, which gives insight into the positive, as well as problematic aspects, is based on the example of the formulation of the EC-Directive concerning the control of chemicals, and its implementation in the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK.
