Permission to handle certain group A carcinogens

According to the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s rules, it is forbidden to handle certain carcinogens. This applies to substances included in group A in our regulation on chemical hazards in the working environment (AFS 2011:19). The substances in question are also shown in the table below.

However, in certain exceptional cases, you may be permitted to handle these substances. Apply for a permit by filling in the form below. If you handle these substances without a permit, the Swedish Work Environment Authority may decide that you must pay a sanction penalty fee.

For example, you can obtain a permit if you are going to:

• carry out research into the effects of a carcinogen
• develop analytical methods for a group A substance. 

You do not need a permit to stock, sell or transport unbroken original packaging containing these substances.

The Swedish Work Environment Authority’s processing time for permits is normally 3 months. So be sure to apply in good time.

How to apply

1. Fill in the application form
   This application form is only available in Swedish for the time being.
   
   Permission to handle group A and B chemical substances, application form in swedish, pdf, opens in new window
   
   Amongst other things, you must fill in information on:
    
   • the name of the substance or product you are going to handle
   • the CAS number of the substance or product
   • your methods
   • the reason for handling the substance
   • the length of time for which you are seeking a permit
   • how much of the substance you will have and use
   • the number of people concerned
   • the reason why you cannot replace the substance or product with a less dangerous product.
     
     
2. Produce the following documents
   
   
   • your risk assessment with decisions on measures
   • your written handling and safety instructions
   • opinion of your safety officer on the handling of the substance.
     
     
3. Send the application form and documents 
   Send the application form and attach the risk assessment, the instructions and the opinion from the safety officer, send it to:
   
   arbetsmiljoverket@av.se
   
   or in a letter to
   the Swedish Work Environment Authority,
   Box 9082 
   171 09 Solna 
   
   You will receive an automatic response to the email address from which the application was sent, confirming that we have received your notification. If you send us a letter, we will respond by letter.
   
   
4. If your application is not complete
    If your application is not complete, we will ask you to supplement it.
   
   
5. Appointment for an inspection
   Once the application is complete, we usually make an appointment for an inspection. If we discover deficiencies during the inspection, we will send you an inspection report. The inspection report specifies what you must rectify. You normally have 2 weeks to reply.
   
   
6. Decision
   We will decide whether or not to issue you with a permit.

You may appeal

If the Swedish Work Environment Authority decides not to issue you with a permit you may appeal.

1. Appeal
   If we choose not to issue a permit, you may appeal the decision. Our notice will set out how you should do so. Set out why you consider that we should change our decision. Please send your appeal to the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
   
   
2. We may change our previous decision
   The Swedish Work Environment Authority will reassess the application. If we decide to change our initial decision, we will notify you of this.
   
   
3. If we do not change our previous decision, we will refer your appeal to a court of law
   If the Swedish Work Environment Authority stands by its first assessment not to grant a permit, we will refer your appeal to a court of law, namely the Administrative Court. We will also send your application and all other documents in your case.
   
   
4. The court will take a decision
   The court will adopt a position on your appeal and take a decision. You will receive notice directly from the court.
   

Carcinogens, group A

These are substances that belong to group A and should not normally be handled. This also applies to the substances’ salts and when the substance contains crystal water.

* CAS Number is the identification number of the substance according to Chemical Abstract Service.