THE new Centre for Chemical Safety and Stewardship has opened at a new facility in York.

The centre (CCSS) has brought together internationally recognised scientific expertise to help to produce compliance and regulatory systems under the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), based at Sand Hutton. About 60 scientists are based at the centre, offering impartial scientific studies to companies and working with Government departments to provide evidence to inform policy decisions.

Chris Sinclair, senior environmental scientist at CCSS, said: “We are unique in that we have the necessary expertise in one place and what’s more, we also have access to the vast pool of additional resource and skill within Fera. Over and above that we also develop risk assessment science for regulators and our internationally recognised scientists work with Government departments to inform policy decisions and improve risk assessment.''