HSC - Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS)

ACTS is in the process of being reconstituted so the information on this page may change.

Terms of reference: To advise the Commission on matters relating to the prevention, control and management of hazards and risks to the health and safety of persons arising from the supply or use of toxic substances at work, with due regard to any related risks to consumers, the public and the environment.

ACTS open meetings

Subcommittees

In order to provide the appropriate support to deliver its work plan ACTS has a number of subcommittees. These include:

• Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP)
  A consultative forum for the consideration of issues relating to the hazard classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals in the context of the Dangerous Substances Directive and the Dangerous Preparations Directive. For further information on SCHIP, please see 'Background and purpose of the Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP)'
• The Working Group on Action to Control Chemicals (WATCH)
  WATCH advises the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS) and HSE on scientific and technical issues relating to the assessment and control of health risks from chemicals. It is a government scientific advisory committee and as such is subject to the Office of Science and Technology's Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees.
• European Risk Management Advisory Group (ERMAG)
  This is a consultative forum which considers risk reduction strategies for chemicals reviewed through the European Existing Substances Regulation.
• Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)
  Provides a forum for discussion between HSE, UK members of the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) and other interested bodies, on the development of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs) and of Binding Limit Values, and other related matters, with special reference to the quality of scientific reviews and socio-economic factors. In particular, it co-ordinates comments made to the European Commission on these matters.
• Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) Framework Review Working Group
  Was set up with the remit to develop a revised OEL Framework, within the context of the COSHH control hierarchy, to provide a robust tool for the management of chemicals in the workplace thereby contributing to the effective protection of workers' health.
• Working Group on COSHH Essentials
  This working group quality assures future sheets for inclusion in the COSHH Essentials pack and related publications carrying the COSHH Essentials logo. It also reviews the technical base for COSHH Essentials developments.

ACTS Secretariat can be contacted at: Health & Safety Executive, Floor 5S1, Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 7HS or email: marie.warburton@hse.gsi.go.uk

ACTS

Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP)

• 23 May 2002 - SCHIP/05/02 (Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP))
• 21 November 2001 - SCHIP/45/01 (Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP))
• 23 May 2001 - SCHIP/21/01 (Standing Committee on Hazard Information and Packaging (SCHIP))

ERMAG

• 10 January 2002 - (European Risk Management Advisory Group)
• 16 March 2001 (European Risk Management Advisory Group)

WEELS

• 18 May 2004 - Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)
• 23 October 2003 - Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)
• 4 February 2003 - Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)
• 19 April 2002 - Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)
• 19 December 2001 - Working Group on European Exposure Limits (WEELS)