If a chemical threatens health or the environment, shouldn't it just be replaced by safer alternatives? Or should regulators try to calculate a 'cost' for this harm to health or the environment (e.g. the cost of someone getting breast cancer), and then compare this with any costs involved in replacing the chemical? You may think it strange, but this is what often really happens … [Read more...] about Regulating chemicals: is putting a price on health impacts unrealistic and misleading?
Economic impact
CHEM Trust challenges UK Government on Brexit pesticides plans
The UK Government has claimed that it would not weaken EU environmental laws when transferring them into UK law in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with Secretary of State Michael Gove stating that "We will deliver a Green Brexit, where environmental standards are not only maintained but enhanced". However, CHEM Trust's analysis is that this pledge has been broken, and instead … [Read more...] about CHEM Trust challenges UK Government on Brexit pesticides plans
Chemical regulations cost money wherever you are in the world – and they protect workers, public and environment
The main lobby organisation for Europe's chemical industry, CEFIC, has been keen to publicise a new study from the European Commission, a "Cumulative Cost Assessment" of the cost of regulation on Europe's chemical industry. However, as the European Commission has pointed out, the study doesn't consider economic or broader societal benefits of the legislation (such as protection … [Read more...] about Chemical regulations cost money wherever you are in the world – and they protect workers, public and environment
Safer chemicals are good for business, creating jobs and growth
A major US-based study has found that producing and using safer chemicals is good for business, and recommends that companies that are not already evaluating the potential of safer chemicals should do so. The study estimates that the market for safer chemicals has 24 times the growth potential of the worldwide conventional chemicals market , and that job creation in safer goods … [Read more...] about Safer chemicals are good for business, creating jobs and growth
EU Conference on hormone disrupters: What did we learn?
CHEM Trust was among the many participants in yesterday’s European Commission conference on hormone (or endocrine) disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The Commission's Health Department (DG Santé) had organised the conference to discuss the next steps of an impact assessment on the potential socio-economic impacts of draft criteria to identify EDCs. Once finalised, these criteria will … [Read more...] about EU Conference on hormone disrupters: What did we learn?