Permits, authorization and exemptions
At Uppsala university substances that require permits or are forbidden are sometimes needed. Various authorities with different legal requirements regulate the permits and exemptions. The university require special authoritiy for the buying of ethanol.
The University has permits to handle flammable products. The permits are administrated by the Chemical Coordinator at the Unit for Environment and Physical Work Environment.
Information about how to apply for permissions, special authority or exemptions:
A- and B-substances
For some of the cancirogenic, sensitizing or substances toxic to the reproduction a permit from the Swedish Work Environment Authorithy is required before handling the substances. When ordering such substances the supplier will ask about the permit before taking the order. The substances that requires permits are listed in Appendix 1 to the provision on Chemical Hazards in the Working Environment. The two groups of substances in appendix 1 are called A- and B-substances.
Chemical Hazards in the Working Environment 2011:19.
Group A
Substances from group A in the appendix may not be handled but there are some exceptions where a permit from the Swedish Work Environment Authority can be obtained. One exception could be researching a carcinogenic substance's effects. The same applies for chemical products which contain such a substance as contamination at a level of 0.1 weight per cent or more. All substances in group A are classified as cancirogenic.
Group B
Substances from group B may not be handled without permission from the Swedish Work Environment Authority. It also applies for products that contains such a substance at a level of 1 weight percent or more. The substances in group B are classified as cancirogenic, sensitizing or toxic to the reproduction.
Permit application
The application should be made by the department where the substance will be handled. The application shall be made in accordance to §49 in provision 2011:19 Chemical Hazards in the Working environment. Send the application to the Chemical coordinator at the division for Environment and Work Environment where it will be administrated and sent to the Swedish Work Environment Authority. The processing time for the application can be around three months. The authority might come for an inspection before a permission is given.
Health hazardous substances
Some of the health hazardous substances require permission from the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
These are substances that due to their intrinsic properties can be dangerous to human life or health and can be used in order to get intoxicated or get other effects. The substances that need permission are listed in the appendix to regulation 1999:58
If your department needs a permit you should contact the Chemical Coordinator at the University who will then administrate the application. The application is done digitally. Name of product, intended use and estimated quantities must be reported in the application
Exemptions
Permission is not required if the substances are used for reasearch and the following criteria is met:
- The product is a mixture containing GBL and/or 1,4-butanediol
- The product is prepared in a way so that GBL and/or 1,4-butanediol not easily can be used or extracted by methods that are easily applicable or economically advantageous
The excemptions are regulated in the provision 2014:3 - in Swedish
Mercury and chemicals containing mercury
Section 9 of the Chemical Products (Handling, Import, and Export Prohibitions) Ordinance (1998:944) prohibits the use of mercury and chemicals containing mercury. The only general exception is the use of chemicals containing mercury for analytical purposes.
Chemical Products (Handling, Import, and Export Prohibitions) Ordinance (1998:944) - in Swedish
Application for exemption
In cases where the head of department/equivalent considers that the department/equivalent must continue to deal with chemicals containing mercury, it is possible to apply to the Swedish Chemicals Agency for an exemption.
To apply for an exemption, use the form from KemI:
Swedish Chemicals Agency form - in Swedish
Note that the application for exemption must be sent to the Chemical Coordinator at the Unit for Environment and Physical Work Environment, who will see to it that the application is registered and sent to the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
Further information about exemptions for mercury and chemicals containing mercury is available in the Swedish Chemicals Agency’s information.
Swedish regulations on mercury and articles containing mercury
Ethanol purchases
To be able to purchase ethanol, a person must obtain authorisation from their head of department/equivalent. Fill in the form and send it to the Procurement and Purchase Office. The address is on the form. Ethanol can then be purchased via the University's eCommerce system Produktwebben.
Decision on the right to order ethanol and/or radionicleids (the form) Pdf, 399 kB.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden does not require a permit to be obtained for purchases of ethanol for scientific purposes. However, anyone purchasing industrial alcohol that is not completely denatured is required to keep records of purchases, use and stocks of alcohol. Reasons for differences between purchased quantity and consumed quantity must be identified, documented and measures must be taken. The documentation must be saved for at least two years.
Public Health Agency of Sweden information about technical spirit