November 20, 2003
Secret plan attacks precautionary principle
The chemical industry plans to conduct a covert campaign
attacking the growing movement in California for more chemical
safety testing, with tactics including the creation of phony
front groups and spying on activists, according to an internal
American Chemistry Council (ACC) memo obtained by Environmental
Working Group (EWG).
The memo, available below, offers a rare inside glimpse of the
deceptive and underhanded tactics used by some corporations and
public relations firms to lobby against tougher environmental
regulations. It recommends that ACC, the lobbying association
for U.S. chemical companies, hire a crisis communications firm
that promotes itself as the attack dog of the public relations
industry to fight back against California's adoption of laws and regulations that
embrace the "precautionary principle."
http://www.ewg.org/briefings/acc/
Download
leaked MSWord document
October 29, 2003
Commission presents chemical legislative proposal
The EU Commission presented a proposal for new chemicals legislation
(REACH). The proposal has been presented to the European Parliament
for discussion and voting.
October, 2003
German unions demand stricter REACH
Three large German trade unions, representing some 6 million workers, criticize the chemical industustry for scaremongering in their lobby-campaign against REACH, the proposed new chemicals regulation in the EU. In a joint position paper, the unions demand that EU adopts a policy that puts an end to the current practice of "flying blind" regarding chemicals, risking the health of countless people and the environment. In a five point programme, they inter alia demand that especially dangerous substances are banned, that corporations are made accountable and that the public gets access to information.
August 27, 2003
Downstream users want stronger REACH
Contrary to the chemical industry, users of chemicals
want to make the proposed REACH system stronger. In particular
they want a substitution mechanism.
Downstream users
want stronger REACH
June 26, 2003
"Unacceptable" risks from chemicals
The UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution has published its report "Chemicals in Products - Safeguarding the Environment and Human Health" today. Conclusions from the report:
- support for precautionary approach
- the substitution principle should be a "central objective of chemicals policy"
- when chemicals are found in bodies/breast milk, "regulatory steps should be taken to remove them from the market immediately"
- foreign manufacturers and importers should have obligations to register dangerous chemicals
- an internet list of ALL chemicals on the market, with data on persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity
http://www.rcep.org.uk/chreport.htm
June 17, 2003
San Francisco adopts the Precautionary Principle
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted the precautionary
principle as city and county policy June 17, 2003, a stunning and
unprecedented breakthrough in the management of environmental matters
in the U.S.
www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?St=1
April 10, 2003
Opening of International Chemical Secretariat
The International Chemical
Secretariat (ChemSec) a non-profit organization dedicated to work towards
a toxic free future was officially opened. At the opening ceremony
the Swedish Minister for Environment Lena Sommestad said:
"We have got a tough job ahead of us. I would like to see a stricter legislation
and your job is to put pressure on us to do a good job"
Pressrelease