13th Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF)

13th Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF)

The event has been rescheduled from March to June

Think tank dedicated to inclusive, transparent and independent debate on the key issues of safe chemicals management

Opportunity for all professionals to exchange on fundamental questions of safe chemicals handling, not necessarily leading to immediate action or implementation but creating a better holistic understanding of chemicals management and its consequences. A multi-stakeholder think tank for businesses, regulators, NGOs and others with a space to think about the bigger picture and go home with a clearer understanding of how to position their organisations.

Helsinki Chemicals Forum is an independent forum aimed at promoting chemicals safety management globally. Every year HCF is gathering about 200 professionals from 40 countries to share the latest findings and join the discussions around the conference topics.

Held together with ChemBio Finland, the event for the chemistry and biotechnology professionals in the Nordic Countries and Baltic regions.

Messukeskus Helsinki will host the conference simultaneously with ChemBio Finland, the trade fair for the chemistry and biotechnology professionals in the Nordic Countries and Baltic regions, and with PulPaper, the leading international event in chemistry, process industry and wood processing industries. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) also plans its own annual Conference in the same week.

The topics and moderators of the five panels of HCF 2022 are:

  • Science Policy Interface for the sound management of chemicals and waste: something in it for all
    hosted by Monika MacDevette, Chief of the Chemicals and Health Branch of the Economy Division of UNEP
  • Accelerating the replacement of animal toxicity testing
    animated by Patience Brown, policy officer of the Environment, Health and Safety Division, OECD
  • How to best define and stimulate Safe and Sustainable by Design Substances that can replace substances of concern
    chaired by Jurgen Tiedje, Head of the Industrial Transformation unit of DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
  • Accelerating chemicals regulation: grouping of chemicals, generic approach to risk management and essential use concept
    moderated by Geraint Roberts, Consulting Editor, Chemical Watch
  • Can chemicals risk management be integrated with circularity and climate policy objectives or the 3Cs concept
    chaired by Steven Van de Broeck, Director REACH & Chemicals Policy, CEFIC

The panel, How to best define and stimulate Safe and Sustainable by Design substances that can replace substances of concern will discuss the following questions:

  • What is the current understanding of different stakeholders of the concept ‘safe and sustainable-by-design criteria’?
  • What is the place of such criteria in the innovation process?
  • How do these criteria complement regulatory action?
  • Is safe and sustainable by design only for development of new chemicals and materials or can the criteria be applied to existing ones also?
  • What skills and practical projects should be developed?
  • How do we measure the success of the work on safe and sustainable-by-design chemicals and materials?
  • What would be good Key Performance Indicators?
  • What is the link between the work at EU level and international work?

The panel is moderated by Jürgen Tiedje, Head of Industrial Transformation Unit, DG RTD, European Commission. The panelists are:

  • Ann Dierckx, Sustainable Development Director, CEFIC – for industry
  • Dr. Christopher Blum, Sustainable Chemistry Scientific Officer, UBA – for authorities
  • Frida Hök, Deputy Director, ChemSec – for NGOs
  • Joel Tickner, Professor & Executive Director, Lowell University & Green Chemistry & Commerce Council – for academia and third countries
Event Details

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