In recent years, there has been a growing demand for expertise in Social-Economic Assessment (SEA) and environmental economics (ME). Naturally, many inquiries find their way to the Safety of Substances and Products Centre (VSP) of the RIVM. Besides addressing specific queries, VSP can also make significant contributions to broader environmental issues. VSP/RIVM aims to make a strategic decision in this regard. The RIVM Department of Industrial Chemicals and Environmental Economics (ICM) has developed a strategy and roadmap for this purpose, which will be further disseminated in 2024.
The increasing demand for knowledge in SEA and ME stems from various reasons. SEA and ME are essential components, particularly due to the REACH PFAS restriction and the Dutch PFAS project. Additionally, our activities for the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will expand in the coming period due to changes initiated by the European Chemicals Strategy. Colleagues with ME backgrounds are increasingly asked to participate in projects related to Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD), advanced materials, and the circular economy. Apart from regular REACH work, ministries also commission us for tasks such as further developing and broadening the criteria for the Essential Use concept to include biocides. The Netherlands Environmental and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) also expresses interest in incorporating environmental-economic aspects into the ILT-wide risk analysis (IBRA).
The aim is to consolidate the fields of ME and socio-economic analysis into one coherent domain. This domain should be easily accessible, recognizable, and function as a well-coordinated team within VSP. Besides addressing inquiries and projects within VSP, this expertise can also be utilized for other environmental themes within VSP and in other RIVM centers. This necessitates a sound strategy outlining the intended role and added value of environmental economics within VSP.