2004 Global Forecast of Environmental, Health & Safety Policy and Regulatory Developments Impacting Industry

Abstract:     
The analysis of nearly one thousand environmental, health and safety regulatory initiatives taken in 2002 in more than 40 countries indicates that industry should prepare for more stringent requirements with regard to management of dangerous chemicals, global climate change and worker health and safety.

This is the conclusion of the annual research carried out by ENHESA - Environmental Policy Centre (EPC). The research, entitled 2004 Global Forecast of Environmental Health and Safety Policy and Regulatory Developments Impacting Industry, aims at identifying the issues that multinational companies need to focus on in the coming years in order to stay ahead of the regulatory curve and ensure continual compliance in a manner that strengthens business. It follows a similar research report issued in 2002.

The research involved screening of more than 2,000 regulatory initiatives that occurred in 2002 in 42 countries on 4 continents. The screening allowed the identification of 865 regulatory initiatives with regard to environment and occupational health and safety that have an impact on industry in general. A detailed analysis of these 865 regulatory initiatives against the existing regulatory framework and current industry practice revealed ten priority issues that ENHESA believes will have significant implications for international industry over the coming year or longer. Multinational companies wishing to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements in a way that fosters business growth are recommended to take proactive measures with regard to these issues.

The research also revealed that 67% of all new regulations in 2002 were adopted in Europe. The Asia-Pacific region follows with 18%, South America with 11% and North America with 6%. Compared to 2001, there is less new regulations in South America which dropped from 15% to 11% and a corresponding uptake in the other regions. Worldwide 55% of the issues dealt with environmental issues and 45% with occupational health and safety. In 2001 this had been the other way round.

This annual research was carried out by a team of ENHESA-Environmental Policy Centre (EPC) in January 2003.

Keywords: EHS, Environment, Health, Safety, Regulation, Policy

JEL Classifications: F23, I18, K23

Working Paper Series