Baltic Sea Action Plan 2021 identified the need for the development of a regional strategic approach for addressing hazardous substances in HELCOM (action HL1). EG Haz developed the approach and framework described in this document by focusing on the findings and proposals of a background report which had reviewed the previous HELCOM hazardous substances framework (BSEP 182).  The established framework aims to  Promote a truly holistic assessment of hazardous substances, i.e. cover many substances; Strongly link actions with the outcomes of the assessment of the situation, i.e. target actions to these substances and issues (including gaps) which matter the most; Interact actively with existing policies, by both utilizing data generated by them and influencing them; and ensure that adopted HELCOM actions are of added value to – and function in synergy with – existing policies (implementing also BSAP actions HL9 and HL11). The scheme of the management framew