Chemicals Policy Reform
The Challenge of Substances of Emerging Concern in the Great Lakes Basin: A Review of Chemicals Policies and Programs in Canada and the United States
September 2009
This report was commissioned by the International Joint Commission (IJC) Work Group on Chemicals of Emerging Concern in order to assess the ability of existing policy structures to identify, assess, control, and prevent exposures to chemicals of emerging concern in the Great Lakes.
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State Leadership in Formulating and Reforming Chemicals Policy: Actions Taken and Lessons Learned
July 2009
This report examines states’ efforts in reforming the way chemicals in commerce are managed and analyzes chemicals policies that have been proposed or implemented at the state level.
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Chemicals Policy for the Future
January 2009
Presents a sketch of a very different approach to chemicals policy than that constructed in the 1970s. The passage of time has allowed us to recognize the flaws and limits of the conventional approach. Now, some forty years beyond the 1970s we have arrived at a good point to reconsider and redesign the nation’s chemical policies.
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Toxic Substances in Articles: The Need for Information
2008
This report contributes to the continued discussion on the various measures needed to achieve improved chemicals management at national, regional and global levels, by exploring the benefits to be gained from information on chemicals in articles.
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Options for State Chemicals Policy Reform: A Resource Guide
January 2008
This report outlines a range of options to help reshape and reorient chemicals management policy at the state level so that it more effectively protects health and environment while stimulating innovation, and safer chemistry and products. The options provide tools and examples of strategies to gather and share information through supply chains; facilitate more effective prioritization and action on chemicals; promote assessment and application of safer alternatives to problematic chemicals; and support research and development of products based on green chemistry.
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Presumption of Safety: Limits of Federal Policies on Toxic Substances in Consumer Products
February 2008
This report identifies four reasons why the regulatory system for protecting the public from toxic substances in toys and other products is inadequate, allowing potentially harmful products to end up on store shelves.
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Making Chemicals Safer
April 2005
An outline of various approaches to reducing chemicals hazards.
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Framing a Safe Chemicals Future
2005
A summary of discussions and options considered at the Lowell Center's April 2005 conference, "Framing a Future Chemicals Policy" in Boston.
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Integrated Chemicals Policy: Seeking New Direction in Chemicals Management
October 2003
This briefing paper presents an overview of the problems of current chemicals management efforts and the need for a new approach. It summarizes efforts moving forward in Europe, the United States, and internationally on integrated chemicals policy.
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Precautionary Chemicals Policy Initiatives in the United States
October 2003
An overview of several of the more innovative chemicals policy initiatives at the local, state, regional, and federal level in the United States.
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The Promise and Limits of the United States Toxic Substances Control Act
October 2003
Presents an overview of the Toxic Substances Control Act and its limitations.
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Alternatives Assessment
Alternatives Assessment Framework of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
July 2006
Developed with the goal of creating an open source framework for the relatively quick assessment of safer and more socially just alternatives to chemicals, materials, and products of concern.
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Designing Safer Alternatives: Chemicals, Materials and Products
July 2005
A meeting summary from 2004 LCSP Alternatives Assessment meeting.
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Decabromodiphenylether: An Investigation of Non-Halogen Substitutes in Electronic Enclosure and Textile Applications
April 2005
A study which identifies the primary sectors that use decaBDE in the US and substitute flame retardants and materials in electronic enclosures and textiles that meet fire protection standards, assess the availability of these substitutes, delineates examples of where these substitutes are currently used in commerce, and assess the costs of these substitutes where data are available.
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Framing a Safe Chemicals Future
2005
A summary of discussions and options considered at the LCSP April 2005, "Framing a Future Chemicals Policy" conference in Boston.
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The Use of Di-2ethylhexyl-Phthalate in PVC Medical Devices: Exposure, Toxicity and Alternatives
1999
Examines two aspects of human exposure to di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP): the health risks associated with this exposure; and alternatives to its use. DEHP is a phthalate ester widely used as a plasticizer to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl) medical products soft and flexible. PVC is used in a range of medical devices from intravenous (IV) fluid containers and blood bags to medical tubing.
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European Chemicals Policy
REACH and GHS Update
April 2008
Provides an update on the EU regulation to implement the UN Globally Harmonised System for classification and labelling of substances and mixtures and outlines subsequent amendments to parts of REACH.
REACH Is Here: The Politics are Over, Now the Hard Work Starts
April 2008
Explains the regulatory process that was followed towards the final adoption by the European Union (EU) of the REACH Regulation. It sets out its key elements as contained in the final and agreed REACH Regulation adopted in December 2006.
A Brief Introduction to the European Commission's Regulatory Proposal on Registration, Authorisation and Evaluation of Chemicals (REACH)
April 2006
A briefing outlining the then proposed REACH regulatory system.
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An Introduction to the Current System for Regulating Chemicals Use in the European Union
2005
A short outline of the previous EU chemicals regulatory system.
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New Directions in European Chemicals Policies: Drivers, Scope, and Status
October 2003
The result of interviews with key industry, government, labor, and advocacy stakeholders as well as in-depth document analysis, this report provides an overview of chemicals management policies at the European Union and Member State levels. It examines their influences, impacts, and status. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization process proposed by the European Commission as well as stakeholder perspectives on the development of new policies. The report provides a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the then emerging European policy proposals.
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Chemicals Policies in Europe Set New Worldwide Standard: Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH)
October 2003
An overview of the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals) process as well as its rationale and the problems the European Union hopes to solve with the policy.
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So What? Projected Changes in Chemicals Management under the Proposed European Chemicals Policy
October 2003
Analyses how the European chemicals policy proposals would modify the current management of toxic substances in commerce.
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Update on the European Commission’s REACH Proposal - Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals
November 2003
Provides an update on the status of the REACH proposal and an overview of changes that occurred in the final October 2003 draft legislation.
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Innovative Chemicals Policy Initiatives in Europe: Drivers of the REACH Proposal
2001
Describes the European Member State initiatives that have formed the basis of the European Union Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals Proposal.
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Green Chemistry & Sustainability
Growing the Green Economy: A State's Guide to Creating Opportunities for Green Chemistry and Design for Environment
May 2009
A joint report by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable and the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council outlining options for states to successfully promote research, development and application of these approaches to eliminate or reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in manufacturing and to promote a green economy.
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Advancing Green Chemistry: An Action Plan for Michigan Green Chemistry Research, Development, and Education
September 2008
A strategy by the state of Michigan to promote research, development, and commercialization of innovative and practical technologies that prevent pollution through cleaner, cheaper, smarter chemistry.
Achieving Sustainability: The Interplay Between Green Chemistry, Regulation and Industry
June 2005
in European Proposal for Chemicals Regulation: REACH and beyond (proceedings of the international workshop, Paris, June 15th 2005), C. Weill, Editor. 2005, IDDRI: Paris, France. p. 56-60.
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The US Experience in Promoting Sustainable Chemistry
2005
An outline of the federal and state level regulatory systems and an examination of lessons learned from them.
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