Subgroups under the Nordic Working Group for Chemicals, Environment, and Health (NKE)

Nordic Exposure Group (NEXPO)

The use of chemicals and how people (at work, as consumers and among the general population, both directly and indirectly via the environment) and the environment are exposed to them. The group works with information about exposure, the development and harmonisation of methods, strategies, guidelines, instructions, education and training in methods of exposure assessment, IT tools and databases. The group operates at Nordic, European (primarily in the EU/EEA on REACH) and global level (OECD).

The group’s work to ensure that the Nordic Council of Ministers achieves the objectives and priorities of the co-operation programme on chemicals, their use and exposure. 

Nordic Classification Group (NKIG)

Information for consumers and companies aimed at improving safety in connection with handling and using chemicals that pose a health or environmental hazard, and goods that contain them. The group also interprets and implements EU legislation (the CLP directive). The group’s work helps to ensure that the Nordic Council of Ministers achieves the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on disseminating information about hazardous chemicals, with a view toward preventing damage to the environment and human health.

Nordic Co-ordination for the Development of Test Methods in Toxicology and Ecotoxicology (Nord-UTTE)

Development of test methods for toxicology and ecotoxicology. The group collaborates on the development and validation of guidelines and test methods for endocrine disruptors and nanomaterials. The group’s work helps to ensure that the Nordic Council of Ministers achieves the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on the acceptance and use of these test methods in international forums, e.g. the OECD Test Guideline Programme, and in line with EU chemicals legislation (e.g. REACH, CLP and the directives on biocides and pesticides).

Nordic Risk Assessment Project (NORAP)

Risk and hazard assessment and risk management with chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, combination effects and social costs. The group’s work helps to ensure that the Nordic Council of Ministers achieves the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on the development of methods, advice and guidelines for risk assessment and risk management in connection with the implementation of EU and other international chemicals legislation. 

Nordic Pesticides Group (NPlvG)

Safety aspects of processing and using products that contain pesticides and reducing emissions. The group develops, interprets and implements work routines and procedures in conjunction with EU pesticide legislation, including evaluations, risk assessments and product approval. The group operates within the North Zone – a partnership involving Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Baltic countries. Its purpose is to evaluate applications for the approval of pesticides.
The group’s work helps the Nordic Council of Ministers achieve the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on the replacement of hazardous substances with less hazardous ones.

Nordic Biocide Group (NBG)

Safety aspects of handling and using biocides, biocide products and products treated with biocides. The group develops, interprets and implements work routines and procedures related to EU biocide legislation (the Biocide Regulation), including evaluations, risk assessments and product approvals.
The group’s work helps the Nordic Council of Ministers achieve the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on the replacement of hazardous substances with less hazardous ones.

Nordic Nanomaterial Group (N-Nano)

Safety aspects of processing and using nanomaterials and reducing emissions from them. The group works on adapting legislation (REACH and CLP), and has helped develop test methods and risk assessments. It has also contributed to international studies and the development of international efforts in this area. N-Nano publishes its findings on NanoHub (nanohub.org).  The group is also an arena for Nordic co-operation on and coordination of relevant EU processes. This approach proved particularly fruitful in the recent amendment to REACH, which now takes into account nanoforms of substances.

 Nordic Ozone Group (NOG) and the F-gases Group

Protection of the climate and the ozone layer from the impact of human activity. The group co-ordinates Nordic and European input into international negotiations under the Montreal Protocol/Kigali Amendment, including in relation to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), provides input into the development of new EU legislation, co-ordinates compliance with existing legislation, proposes initiatives to reduce emissions, and provides information about these initiatives and about protecting the ozone layer in general.
The group’s work helps the Nordic Council of Ministers achieve the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on the replacement of hazardous substances with less hazardous ones.

Nordic Product Register Group (NPG)

Information about the use of chemicals in products, which is essential for evaluating exposure, surveillance and other efforts by official bodies at national, regional and local level. The group develops, maintains and markets the Nordic SPIN database and the Nordic product registers, helps to build up EU registers in line with REACH legislation, harmonises datasets in the registers, promotes the international use of data, and develops user information and tools aimed at optimising the use of the data.
The group’s work helps the Nordic Council of Ministers achieve the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on restricting and minimising risks from the use of hazardous substances.

Nordic Screening Group (NScG)

Knowledge of the prevalence and spread of harmful chemicals in the Nordic Region and the Arctic. The group screens new chemicals that may have potentially adverse effects on health and the environment. The results inform EU updates to the list of priority substances under the Water Framework Directive, risk-assessment work under REACH, and chemical-identification work under OSPAR and HELCOM.  The group also takes the initiative for knowledge-sharing between the Nordic countries, by organising seminars focusing on new topics related to the incidence and spread of harmful chemicals in the environment. The Nordic Screening Group (NScG) publishes details of its work, including results, on its own website (www.nordicscreening.org).
The group’s work helps the Nordic Council of Ministers achieve the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on improving knowledge of the substances, their characteristics and risks.

Nordic Inspection Group (NTG)

Monitoring of chemicals legislation (REACH, CLP, VOC, RoHS, detergents and biocides). The group conducts joint monitoring projects, co-ordinates Nordic views and priorities in relation to activities in the EU/EEA, and improves the monitoring process by jointly interpreting the regulations, issuing joint responses to problems and collating best practices.

The group’s work helps the Nordic Council of Ministers achieve the objectives and priorities in the co-operation programme on monitoring chemicals in goods and products, in recycling and in relation to online trading.

Nordic Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Group (PRTR Group)

Knowledge of emissions of chemical substances in the Nordic countries. The group supports pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) in the Nordic countries, as well as compliance with international initiatives (EU PRTR regulations, the UNECE-PRTR Protocol under the Aarhus Convention, and the OECD’s TFPRTR).