Putting yourself in a regulator’s shoes - Watze de Wolf
In this episode, I speak with Dr. Watze de Wolf.
Watze has had a long and accomplished career working as a scientist and manager in both industry and regulatory settings, including 15 years working at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
We have a wide-ranging discussion about his experiences and observations of how chemicals management has evolved over recent decades, and attempt to provide a diagnosis for the current situation and outlook for the years ahead.
This includes:
Watze’s background, career journey and people he worked with
The tension between the uncertainty and complexity of science vs the need for clear and predictable regulation
The importance of communication and meeting your audience where they are
Contrasting sensitivities and drivers of behaviour in different industries
The shift away from risk-based approaches, and the rise of persistence
The importance of dialogue and the value of organisations like the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
Understanding EU regulations as complex systems
Experiences with REACH dossiers, from both industry and regulator perspectives
What it’s like for early career scientists at ECHA
Discussions and experiences from the ECHA Member State Committee
Thoughts on the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)
What a new harmonised classification of ethanol means for its ongoing use as a disinfectant
The essential use concept and how it could re-define chemicals management in Europe
Importance of EU Member State participation, and the impact of Brexit on regulatory discussions
Regrettable restrictions and thoughts on the ongoing group-wide restriction of PFAS
Thoughts on the overall direction of travel, broader technological and societal shifts, and the impact on science
Watze's website: rMSC.fi – rMSC
Persistence Science Interest Group Pushes Forward with Global Collaboration and New Initiatives
