Chemicals requiring a permit
A permit or dispensation is required to handle certain chemicals (see below). The manager responsible for the activity is responsible for ensuring that valid permits are in place. Permits must be applied for by the individual research group, and are time-limited (usually 1-3 years).
The permit specifies the rules that apply to handling, such as how the chemical is to be used, stored and in what rooms and areas it may be used. Requirements differ between permit authorities, but common requirements include risk assessment, handling instructions and having emergency procedures in place. Chemicals requiring a permit may not be lent or supplied to other parties.
Substances requiring a permit or dispensation are:
- Hazardous Substances Group A (Swedish Work Environment Authority)
- Hazardous Substances Group B (Swedish Work Environment Authority)
- Hazardous goods (Swedish Public Health Agency)
- Drug precursors (Swedish Medical Products Agency)
- Mercury and mercury compounds (Swedish Chemicals Agency)
- Flammable goods (see under “Flammable and explosive goods”)
More information on chemical substances requiring a permit or notification can be found under the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s information on Chemical permits and in the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s regulations (AFS 2011:19) on chemical hazards in the working environment.
Hazardous substances in Groups A and B
Group A substances may normally not be handled at all. The substances in this group are carcinogenic substances for which a permit may be granted, for example, for research on carcinogenic substances or measurement methods.
Group B substances may be handled with a permit from the Swedish Work Environment Authority. The substances in this group are carcinogenic, sensitising, allergenic or toxic to reproduction.
It is not only pure chemicals that require a permit, but also mixtures and kits containing small quantities of a substance that requires a permit. Products containing at least 0.1 weight percent of a Group A substance require a permit, and the limit for Group B substances is 1 weight percent.
Violation of permit regulations may incur a monetary penalty (SEK 400,000 for Group A substances, SEK 150,000 for Group B substances).
Hazardous goods
Hazardous goods are substances which can endanger human life or health and which are used, or can be expected to be used, for the purpose of inducing intoxication or other effects. To restrict access, a permit from the Public Health Agency is required in order to use substances classified as hazardous goods. The Swedish Public Health Agency’s website contains information on hazardous goods and how to apply for a permit.
Substances classified as hazardous goods requiring a permit are listed in the Annex to the Ordinance (1999:58; amended 2020:585) on the prohibition of certain goods dangerous to health.
Drugs and drug precursors
The director of a state-owned or state-funded scientific institution may not possess drugs without holding a permit, pursuant to the Act (1992:860) on the Control of Narcotic Drugs, Section 7. More information is available on the website of the Swedish Medical Products Agency. Use of these substances does not have to be reported on regularly, but must be documented so as to enable all handling to be traced and reported at the Swedish Medical Products Agency’s request.
Drug precursors may require a permit. Trade associations and authorities such as the Medical Products Agency, the National Criminal Police and the Swedish Customs Service are collaborating to reduce the supply of illegal drugs by limiting the availability of chemicals used for drug manufacturing. Updated information on which substances are classified as drug precursors requiring a permit, as well as forms, can be found on the Swedish National Agency’s website on Drug Precursors.
Examples of substances requiring a permit (Category 1 substances): ephedrine, ergometrine, ergotamine, chloroephedrine, chloropseudoephedrine, lysergic acid, 1-Phenyl-2-propanone, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, N-acetylanthranilic acid, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylpropan-2-one, isosafrole, piperonal, safrole, alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile.
Acetic anhydride requires registration for possession of more than 100 litres over a 12-month period.
No registration is required for possession of substances in categories 2B and 3. Examples of such substances: anthranilic acid, phenylacetic acid, piperidine, potassium permanganate, acetone, ethyl ether, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid.
Mercury
Use of mercury and mercury compounds and preparations is prohibited in Sweden. However, the Swedish Chemicals Agency has granted certain time-limited exceptions in cases where there are no viable alternatives (see Annex 3 to the Swedish Chemicals Agency's Regulations (KIFS 2017:7) on Chemical Products and Biotechnological Organisms. In short, this means that mercury may be used for specified applications in certain areas (e.g. analytical chemicals) for the specified period of time. When mercury is used according to the exceptions in Annex 3, there is no longer a requirement to specifically document the date of use, number of units, quantity and application area.
In addition to the exceptions in Annex 3, the Swedish Chemicals Agency can grant exemptions in individual cases. For more information, see the Swedish Chemicals Agency’s website on mercury. However, the Swedish Chemicals Agency is restrictive in granting dispensations and does so only if there are strong grounds for it.