Boost from US for draft EU Chemicals Legislation (REACH)
REACH-type legislation was introduced in the US Congress last week
18.07.2005 |Daniela Rosche
Following the findings of a report requested by the Senator and drafted by Congress' investigative agency GAO , the senator and his colleague introduced the "Child, Worker and Consumer Safe Chemicals Act" in Congress.
The GAO report confirms what NGOs in the US and Europe have been stressing for many years: chemicals we are surrounded by on a daily basis are out of control.
In case of the US, it becomes clear from the report that the US EPA has not been able to protect US citizens from the negative health and environment effects of man-made chemicals.
The new legislation incorporates many elements of the REACH proposal which has been drafted by the EU Commission in 2003 and which is on the table for a political agreement this fall.
Amongst others the bill asks for a full-right to know for workers and the public and companies will have to submit evidence that the chemicals they are marketing are safe.
The GAO report can be downloaded.
