EU risk assessment: science and policy

The EU risk assessment programme on existing substances is governed by Council Regulation (EC) 793/93. This regulation sets out a framework for evaluating and controlling the risks posed by existing substances. The results of the EU risk assessment programme are science-based regulatory risk assessments. This paper gives an overview of some fundamental principles governing the EU existing substances risk assessment programme, focusing on where and why there may be gaps between science and policy. Examples are then given showing that EU regulatory decisions are based on science, but also illustrating how policy influences the regulatory decisions. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.