Glossary

Seven-digit identification number for chemical substances on the EU market.

European Communities/European Union.

European Chemicals Bureau.

European Commission Co-Ordination for handling dossiers provided with applications to include a plant protection product on Annex I to the plant protection products directive.

European Chemicals Agency

European Classification and Labelling Inspections of Preparations.

A limited population of organisms constituting one unit of nature, for example a lake or a forest area with its plants and animals.

European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods.

Endocrine-disrupting chemical/compound/Endocrine-disrupting substance.

European Environment Agency.

European Environment Bureau.

European Economic Sphere (Island, Norway, Liechtenstein, EU Member states)

European Food Safety Authority.

European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances.

European List of Notified Chemical Substances (notified after 1981).

Eco Management and Audit Scheme.

Substances affecting the hormonal systems and which may harm organisms, populations or ecosystems.

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze (i.e., increase the rates of) chemical reactions. They are involved in the chemical processes of the body without being consumed themselves.

Chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol.

Gives free access to European Union law and other documents considered to be public. The website is available in 23 official languages of the European Union.

Waiver, exception.

Substance used in the EU before 1 September1981 and which is included in EINCES.

The extent to which human beings and the environment come into contact/are exposed to hazardous substances.

Set of conditions, including operational conditions and risk management measures, that describe how the substance is manufactured or used during its life-cycle and how the manufacturer or importer controls, or recommends downstream users to control exposure of humans and the environment. These exposure scenarios may cover one specific process or use or several processes or uses as appropriate. (REACH)