Website of the Department of Health

Public Health implications

The Department of Health has responsibility for the provision of high quality toxicological advice to ministers in the Department, and other government departments on public health issues.

The Department relies on expert advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), and also utilises expert scientific and medical advice from the Chief Medical Officer’s independent expert Committees on Toxicity, and Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the  Environment.

The Department has a statutory role in the approval of pesticides and advises on the public health implications of other chemicals, for example those used in cosmetics, where the statutory lead is in other government departments.

• Further information on Pesticides
• Further information on Biocides
• Regulating consumer products
• Regulating cosmetics
• The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS)
• Registration, Evaluation Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH)