This article provides a brief overview of the doctoral dissertation, which constituted an attempt to examine the issue of shifting the responsibilities of administrativeentities to private entities and the effects of the application of such a mechanism. This issue was analysed in the context of legal regulations on the protection of the environment against chemical substances, in particular in the REACH regulation, which shifted the burden of proof for demonstrating the safety of chemical substances. Currently, it is up to entrepreneurs to ensure that the substances they manufacture, place on the market or use do not adversely affect the environment. They are required to have adequate knowledge of the properties of the chemicals they place on the market and to implement appropriate risk management measures.