Resources on Safer Chemicals Policies
Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals
Produced at a 2004 conference, the charter describes the fundamental reform to current chemical laws needed to protect children, workers, communities, and the environment.
Lots of great info and resources on this web site, including background papers on:
- Require Safer Substitutes and Solutions
- Phase Out Persistent, Bioaccumulative, or Highly Toxic Chemicals
- Give the Public and Workers the Full Right-to-Know and Participate
- Act with Foresight
- Require Comprehensive Safety Data for All Chemicals
- Take Immediate Action to Protect Communities and Workers
Chemicals Policy Initiative
Summaries of state-level chemicals policies, the European Union's REACH policy, and other resources from the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at U. Massachusetts, Lowell.
"Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for Leadership in Chemicals Policy and Innovation"
by Michael Wilson, California Policy Research Institute, UC Berkeley.
The full report, as well as shorter articles and Mike Wilson's public testimony on green chemistry and needed reforms to our chemicals policies, is available from the UC Berkeley web site at:
http://coeh.berkeley.edu/news/06_wilson_policy.htm
"Not That Innocent: A comparative analysis of Canadian, European Union, and United States policies on industrial chemicals"
Environmental Defense, in cooperation with Pollution Probe in Canada, has released a major new report on industrial chemicals policies that compares the European Union's new REACH regulation with existing policies in the United States and Canada that govern industrial chemicals. The report identifies "best practices" that draw on the most effective features of the three policies with respect to how well they protect human health and the environment. Best practices are offered for each of six core functions of any chemicals policy, pinpointing how an ideal policy should approach:
* identifying and prioritizing chemicals of concern;
* identifying and tracking chemicals and their production and use;
* facilitating or requiring the generation and submission of risk-relevant information;
* assessing information to determine hazard/exposure/risk;
* imposing controls to mitigate risk; and
* sharing and disclosing information and protecting confidential business information.
link to "Not That Innocent" report web site
“Healthy Business Strategies for Transforming the Toxic Chemical Economy ” Report
Six business case studies show how companies are creating value by embedding concerns for human health and the environment into products. They are eliminating toxics, making innovative products, creating new partnerships and supporting policy reform. Clean Production Action, June, 2006.
link to report
Health Effects & Toxic Chemicals
Health Association Resolutions on Toxics & Safer Chemicals Policies
