TASKS OF THE NICS

Basic Activities

1. Professional-Methodological Guidance

The Institute deals with the tasks and scope of chemical safety, toxicology, management and risk assessment of hazardous chemicals. The Institute's activity encompasses:
– All areas of chemical safety
– Promotes the theoretical and practical activities of these areas

Within this frame, the Institute's duty is:
– Elaboration of chemical safety programs,
– Elaboration of prevention programs for chemical disasters, methodological development and professional co-ordination in the field of prevention,
– Risk assessment and management, and elaboration and application of their methodology

2. Expertise Activity

The National Institute of Chemical Safety takes part in
– Preparation and opinion of laws
– Determination of the hazards of new or lesser-known old substances and preparations, gives expert opinion on these substances
– Assessment of the risk of hazardous substances, elaborates or adapts methodologies for this purpose

3. Tasks as Official Authority

– Under the guidance of the National Center for Public Health, the NICS performs the professional aspects of the authorities' work in the area of chemical safety
– Performs the registration and notification of hazardous materials
– Gives toxicological information
– Keeps record of hazardous materials and hazardous preparations

4. Other Activities Carried out Within the Basic Activity

– The NICS provides advice in the area of toxicology and chemical safety
– Assesses the risk of hazardous substances and preparations, issues toxicological expertise
– Collects and statistically evaluates the cases of human poisoning
– Develops professional connections with EU and OECD (IFCS, IPCS, UNEP Chemical, FAO, ILO, WHO) concerning hazardous substances and preparations, participates in international scientific collaborations
– Participates in the analysis of the results of international co-operations and of the recommendations of international organizations, and their implementation into the local practice
– Acts as the Hungarian contact point for international organizations on chemical safety

5. Preparation of Laws and Legal Harmonization

– The NICS participates in the preparation of laws in the field of chemical safety
– Expresses opinion on laws prepared by other institutions

6. Scientific Research

The aim of research:
– To perform examinations dealing with chemical safety and chemical risks
– To study the effect of hazardous substances and preparations on human health and the environment
– Elaboration and adaptation of toxicological methods
– Performs toxicological and genotoxicological examinations and upon request toxikokinetic studies, in vivo and in vitro
– Immunotoxicological research
– Clinical toxicological examinations and research

7. Informatics

– Data, analysis, documents emerging from NICS is handled by a joint information system of the NCPH and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of State.

Provision of Information

– Upon request the Health Toxicological Information Service of the NICS gives information on dangerous substances and preparations in order to protect human health and the environment
– The Health Toxicological Information Service gives information on toxicological questions to commercial entities and their representation of interest

LEGAL BACKGROUND

Hungarian Regulations Concerning the Tasks of NICS

– Public Act No XXV of 2000 on chemical safety

– Public Act No XCIII of 1993 on labor safety

– Public Act No XXVI of 2004 amending certain Public Acts regarding social and health topics
Part 7: Amendment of Public Act No XXV of 2000 on chemical safety

– Public Act No XXXV of 2000 on plant protection

There are 47 additional national decrees regulating the operation of NICS.

Regulations of the European Commission Concerning the Tasks of NICS

– Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances

– Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 of 28 June 1994 laying down the principles for the assessment of risks to man and the environment of existing substances in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93

– Regulation (EC) No 304/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January of 2003 concerning the export and import of dangerous chemicals

– Commission Regulation (EC) No 2032/2003 of 4 November 2003 on the second phase of the 10-year work programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1896/2000

– Commission Regulation (EC) No 1048/2005 of 13 June 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 2032/2003 on the second phase of the 10-year work programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market