Raluca Stepa, Ellen Schmitz-Felten, Steffen Brenzel (Kooperationsstelle Hamburg IFE GmbH)
Substitution means replacing hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives. It is at the top of the hierarchy of control measures applied to substances. Substitution, however, does not only apply to chemicals, it has been a general legal provision for over two decades (Directive 89/391/EEC) . Newer chemical legislation, such as Regulation No 1907/2006 (REACH) enhances the need to substitute hazardous substances. Tools useful for substitution are available as well as shared knowledge to help in the process.