Nordic chemicals programme
The Nordic Chemicals Programme (2025–2027) aims to reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals and environmental pollution both locally and globally.
The Nordic Chemicals Programme funds projects that reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals and promote sustainable chemical management and supports authorities and experts in chemical work. The projects of the programme produce new knowledge, develop methods and builds competence.
Priorities of the Nordic Chemical Programme
- Theme 1. Development and validation of test methods – Testing chemicals is essential to identify and prevent hazardous properties. We help develop and validate internationally applicable methods to ensure safety and reliability.
- Theme 2. Co-operation in harmonization, implementation, development, and enforcement of EU legislation and international conventions on chemicals – We enable engagement in international processes, EU legislation, and global conventions, which are key for effective chemical safety.
- Theme 3. Impact and screening of chemicals and pollutants – We map chemicals and pollutants and assess their effects, especially with regard to new risks.
- Theme 4. Sustainable chemicals and materials – We strengthen the expertise of authorities and researchers in sustainable chemicals and advanced materials.
- Theme 5. Accessible information and communication – We are committed to improving how we share information about chemical hazards and risks among regulators, scientists and policymakers so that up-to-date information can be easily utilized
Nordic Chemicals FORA - Support for authority work through the Chemical Programme
FORA is a two-year initiative that provides two types of support for Nordic-wide expert cooperation. NCP will launch Nordic Chemicals FORA in early 2026.
Support and tools:
1. Support for cooperation
This is financial support for expert cooperation. It is aimed at experts from government agencies for Nordic co-operation. Funding can be applied throughout the year to support cooperation, including training sessions, workshops and meetings. The event should contribute to the objective of theme 2 to improve cooperation between Nordic experts working on different chemicals’ legislation. The focus is on the harmonization, implementation, development and enforcement of EU chemicals legislation and international conventions.
You can apply for support by filling out a digital application. You can apply here.
2. Digital platform for collaboration
The platform is intended as a collaboration tool that allows experts to work together on documents and share information. It is intended for active inter-authority expert groups and networks. The platform is currently in the procurement phase and will be in operation in 2026.
Projects funded by the Chemical Programme
The chemical program funds a variety of projects. The projects contribute to the objectives of the programme and the Programme Steering Committee decides on the projects to be funded. During the programming period, open project calls will be opened for different priorities. Below is a list of projects funded through the chemical program.
Three-year program projects
- Aim of the project is to enhance the understanding of mammary gland whole mount methods, develop a detailed review paper on these methods and assess the feasibility of including mammary gland whole mount evaluations in OECD test guidelines.
- Project owner: Technical University of Denmark
- Contact person: Sofie Christiansen [email protected]
- Aim of the project is to revise the OECD Test Guideline 489 “In Vivo Mammalian Alkaline Comet Assay” to include our protocol for assessing genotoxicity in testicular germ cells.
- Project owner: Stiftelsen NILU
- Contact person: Ann-Karin Hardie Olsen [email protected]
- Aim of the project is to combine the knowledge of endocrine disruption experts from Denmark and Sweden in the continued investigation of thyroid hormone system sensitive endpoints in invertebrates with the aim of submitting a standard project submission form, describing how to include such endpoints into OECD test guidelines and bringing the project officially into the OECD Test Guideline Program.
- Project owner: University of Southern Denmark
- Contact person: Henrik Holbech [email protected]
- Aim of the project is to facilitate collaboration between Nordic experts across different chemical legislation. The focus will be on sharing of knowledge, best practices, and competences sharing between Nordic countries through relevant activities.
- Project owner: Tukes
- Contact person: Miia Häkkinen [email protected]
- SPIN is the result of a Nordic initiative to gather non-confidential, summarized information from the Nordic product registers concerning chemical substances in different types of products and industrial areas on the common system. Project aim is to rethink and develop suitable platform to deliver and present the SPIN data. This includes optimizing the tools for the usage of the data and to improve the statistics presented from the SPIN database.
- Project owner: Tukes
- Contact person: Anu Huttunen [email protected]
Projects funded in 2025
- Aim of the project is to for collect and analyse information on the use, residues and risks of pesticides in the Nordic and Baltic countries, and to disseminate the information both scientifically and in a popularized way.
- Project owner: LUKE
- Contact person: Marleena Hagner [email protected]
- PikMe is a database of over 1 million substances with information from major chemical inventories (CompTox, ECHA, NORMAN, and more) and a scoring system for persistence, mobility, bioaccumulation and toxicity, in addition to information on physiochemical properties, detection in Norwegian environment and registration of use in Norway. The aim of this project is to expand PikMe to be more relevant to all Nordic countries. This will be done by developing local language interfaces, training materials and workshops.
- Project owner: NIVA
- Contact person: Aina Charlotte Wennberg
- Aim of the project is aims to identify practical technical information and stakeholders’ experiences related to polluted site identification and PFAS contamination remediation, including remediation objectives or standards, and to share this information with stakeholders to promote effective evaluation of polluted areas and sustainable remediation in order to protect human health and the environment from PFAS.
- Project owner: Miljödirektoratet
- Contact person: Audun
- Aim of the project is to raise awareness of and ensure compliance with PFAS restrictions in the Reach- and POPs -regulations. By a Nordic joint control effort, the competent authorities can gather expertise and align their enforcement methodology on PFAS restrictions. Simultaneously, the project will alert Nordic economic actors of upcoming developments in PFAS regulation and chemical analysis.
- Project owner: KEMI
- Contact person:
- The project aims to generate new knowledge on PFAS occurrence and risks by screening seabird and coastal bird eggs, evaluating potential exposure to humans and the environment.
- Project owner: Faroese Environmental Agency
- Contact person:
Goal of the Nordic Chemicals Programme
Chemical co-operation has a long history in the Nordic countries. Co-operation in the chemicals sector among Nordic authorities has enabled the Nordic region to influence the development of chemical regulations in EU, EEA and globally, moving towards safer and more sustainable management.
However, the progress and processes improving chemical safety are slow and new hazards emerge as we learn more about chemicals already in use. Therefore, continuous work to improve chemical management and chemical safety is crucial.
The main purpose of the Nordic Chemicals Programme (2025-2027) is to contribute to the reduction of risks from hazardous chemicals and pollution globally, regionally, and locally by enhancing knowledge exchange, producing new knowledge as well as finding and utilizing synergies between Nordic chemical authorities.
The Nordic Chemicals Programme primarily contributes to PNordic Co-operation Programme for the Environment and Climate 2025–2030 subgoals 3.1 and 3.3:
- Contribute to high level of ambition to the negotiations and active implementation of international agreements concerning chemicals, waste, pollutants, plastic and similar.
- Reduce risks to humans and the environment from chemical substances and products by phasing out hazardous chemicals, developing new knowledge, and informing key target groups.
Nordic environmental and climate cooperation
The Nordic Chemicals Programme is one of the co-operation initiatives funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers for the Environment and Climate. The Nordic Council of Ministers for the Environment and Climate funds 16 co-operation initiatives for years 2025-2027.
Cooperation Programme for the Environment and Climate 2025–2030 addresses the 'triple crisis' of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, supports the region's goal of becoming the world's most sustainable and integrated region by 2030 and facilitates collaboration between the Nordic countries. The goals and sub-goals are designed to contribute to the three strategic priorities of Vision 2030.
See also
Nordic Chemicals Programme Nordic cooperation
publication Nordic Chemicals Programme 2025–2027
Council of Ministers for the Environment and Climate 2025-2027 Environment and Climate Nordic cooperation
Cooperation Programme of the Council of Ministers for the Environment and Climate 2025-2030 Nordic Co-operation Programme for the Environment and Climate 2025–2030