Chemicals Overview

For OSPAR purposes, hazardous substances are defined as substances which are persistent, liable to bioaccumulate and toxic (PBT substances), or which give rise to an equivalent level of concern as the PBT substances.

To reduce the impact of chemicals on the marine environment, OSPAR has established a List of Chemicals for Priority Action which includes a List of Substances of Possible Concern. The aim is to identify those substances which should be given priority in OSPAR’s work and those which may require further investigation. Selection and prioritisation is based on information on the substances’ intrinsic properties, using OSPAR cut-off values for PBT properties. Where relevant, substances are deselected from the lists based on new information.

OSPAR keeps the lists under review, taking account of developments in the chemicals sector in the European Community, particularly under the Water Framework Directive Watch List, and other international agreements including the regulation on registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACH), Stockholm Protocol (United Nations) and the International Maritime Organization.