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Resource Pointer #347 (EU Chemicals Policy)
December 3, 2003

For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

*Principles for a Toxic Free Environment* International Chemical Secretariat. A citizen’s handbook on the health and environmental consequences of widespread chemical use and the shortcomings of current policies and regulations limiting their use. Calls for improved standards for risk assessment procedures and new chemical policies based on four principles: the precautionary principle, the substitution principle, the polluter pays principle, and the right to know principle. 23 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.chemsec.org/more1.htm. Contact International Chemical Secretariat, P.O. Box 7005, SE-402 31 Goteborg, Sweden; phone (46 31) 711-0157; fax (46 31) 711-0152; email infor@chemsec.org; Web site http://www.chemsec.org/.

*A New Chemicals Policy in Europe — New Opportunities for Industry, 2003* World Wildlife Fund (WWF) European Toxics Programme and the European Environmental Bureau. Provides an overview of the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals or REACH system of chemical production, import, and use regulations recently proposed in the European Union (EU). Systematically refutes industry criticism of the REACH proposal by highlighting ways this system could improve business in addition to limiting the harmful effects of dangerous pesiticdes. 30 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.panda.org/downloads/Europe/wwfeebreachnewopforindustry.pdf. Contact WWF European Policy Office, 36 Avenue de Tervuren Box 12, 1040 Brussels, Belgium; phone (32 2) 743-8800; fax (32 2) 743-8819; email toxics@wwfus.org; Web site http://www.panda.org/toxics/.

*Breaking the Pesticide Chain: The Alternatives to Pesticides Coming Off the European Union Market, 2003* David Buffin, Emily Diamand, Roslyn McKendry, and Liz Wright. Recounts the recent withdrawl of 320 pesticide active ingredients from the European Union and the predicted impact on human and environmental health. Criticizes the policy as favoring pesticide manufacturers by targeting pesticides that are already obsolete. Notes a lack of accessibility of pesticide alternatives to farmers in the UK. Proposes policy guidelines for future pesticide withdrawls and increased pest management alternatives. 32 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.pan-uk.org/pub31.htm. Contact PAN UK, Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ, UK; phone (44 20 7) 274-8895; fax (44 20 7) 274-9084; email admin@pan-uk.org; Web site http://www.pan-uk.org/.

*Integrated Chemicals Policy: Seeking New Direction in Chemical Management, 2003* Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. Discusses EU strategies for chemical management including: the substitution and precautionary principles prevalent in the Nordic countries; the model of chemical regulation that evolved in Europe in the 1960s focused on toxicological testing, risk assessment, labeling and marketing restrictions and bans; and the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) proposal which calls for increased industry responsibility to generate and disseminate information to the public and increased management of the manufacturing process and minimization of animal testing. Evaluates the strengths and limitations of these policies and prompts a reconsideration of chemicals policy within the United States based on Europe’s examples. 15 pages. Available for free download at: http://sustainableproduction.org/proj.chem.publ.shtml. Contact Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1 University Ave., Lowell, MA 01854; phone (978) 934-2980; fax (978) 934-2025; email lcsp@uml.edu; Web site http://sustainableproduction.org/.

*European Chemicals Policy Reform — From Paralysis to Action, 2002* Report from a Conference held by the European Environmental Bureau. Outlines the REACH policy and the Copenhagen Chemicals Charter — five demands compiled by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for future chemicals policy: a right-to-know, a deadline for safety test completion for all chemicals already on the market, a phase-out of persistent or bio-accumulative chemicals, a regulation requiring the use of safer alternatives when available, and a commitment to halt hazardous substance release into the environment by 2020. Discusses how these policies should be implemented and the predicted impacts. 35 pages. Available for free download at: http://www.eeb.org/publication/general.htm. Contact European Environmental Bureau, 34, BD DE Waterloo, B-1000 Brussels; phone (32 2) 289-1090; fax (32 2) 289-1099; email info@eeb.org; Web site http://www.eeb.org/Index.htm.

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