Permission to handle certain group A carcinogens

Substances included in group A cannot normally be handled at all. There are certain exceptions, but you must then have a permit from the Swedish Work Environment Authority.

Chemicals in tubes and bottles.

This page might be out of date

The Swedish Work Environment Authority has revised its rules. This means that the information on this page may be out of date after 1 January, 2025. Please follow the link for updated information as well as an updated application form, to be used as from 1 January, 2025.

Apply for a permit to use group A chemical substances

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.

  • 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.

  • We will decide whether or not to issue you with a permit.

  • 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.

Carcinogenic substances CAS-nr*
2-Acetamidofluorene 53-96-3
4-Aminobiphenyl 92-67-1
Benzidine 92-87-5
Bis(chloromethyl) ether 542-88-1
Chloromethyl methyl ether 107-30-2
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) 96-12-8
N,N-Dimethyl-4-aminoazobenzene 60-11-7
Erionite 66733-21-9, 12510-42-8
Hexamethylphosphoric triamide (HMPA) 680-31-9
20-Methylcholanthrene (3-methylcholantrene) 56-49-5
N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) 684-93-5
β-Naphthylamine 91-59-8
4-Nitrodiphenyl 92-93-3

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

Last updated 2024-12-19