The Danish Profile on Management of Chemicals has been prepared in order to grant the application from "The Intergovernmental Forum on Chemicals Safety" (IFCS) and "Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals" (IOMC) to give a national description of the management of chemicals.

The reason for giving a profile on management of chemicals in the different countries is the increased use of chemical substances in both the industrial and developing countries. The large consumption of chemicals may be injurious to both the health and the environment, as the chemicals will come into contact with humans and sooner or later will be discharged to the environment.

The purpose of preparing the profile is to gain an overview of the management of chemicals in different fields of application in Denmark. In this profile it means the presence of chemicals in the environment, the working environment and food. The health aspects both to workers and to the public in general as a consequence of the use of chemicals in these areas are described.

The document is prepared in order to comply with the guidance document from the United Nations' Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). However, the Danish document is chosen as a mini-profile, which means that some issues will not be prepared as detailed as the guidance document prescribes. Selected major issues of managing chemicals have been pointed out.

The Danish legislation and regulations concerning chemicals as well as the ministerial authorities and responsibilities have been selected as major issues in the Danish profile. The three major fields of application concerning the occurrence of chemicals in Denmark are the environment, the workers' health and safety, and foodstuffs.

Other issues are also of great interest in a national profile on management of chemicals. In this mini-profile, it is, however, decided that these areas are of lesser interest than the selected areas covered.

Chemicals and chemical compounds connected only with the following fields of application will not be described: pharmaceutical products for therapeutic use, radioisotopes and other radioactive substances and chemical goods, ready for trade and use. These issues are, however, strongly regulated by the European Union and the regulations are in force in Denmark.

Chemical accidents and acute chemical poisoning are two specific areas which are not included in this profile. However acute toxicological effects are included in the classification of chemicals.

This profile only represents the management of chemicals in Denmark. Greenland and the Faeroe Islands are not included, as special regulations are applied to these regions.

This document has been prepared in co-operation between three ministries and agencies. The participants were:

Anders Carlsen, Chemicals Division, Danish Environmental Protection Agency, (chairman)

Lea Frimann Hansen, Cleaner Technology and Products Division, Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Pernille Weile, Pesticides Division, Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Vagn H. Madsen, Directorate, the Danish Working Environment Services

Ib Knudsen, Institute of Toxicology, National Food Agency of Denmark

Anette Schnipper, Institute of Toxicology, National Food Agency of Denmark

Anne Abildgaard, COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners (secretary) .