M8.4 Chemical Policy Reform

Chemical Policy Reform & the Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals

Consider the elements that your small group identified in class of an ideal chemical policy.

The Louisville Charter is a consensus-built position paper identifying the key elements of a good chemical policy.

In our small group assignment on an ideal chemical policy, we based our fragrance free policy on the 6 principles of the Louisville Charter.  Just like the “2020 national healthy goals,” dates must be set for implementing and re-evaluating these reforms. Governments and corporations impact the progress of healthier economies and societies by implementing the Louisville Charter and committing to practicing innovations for safer chemicals and processes. We must make a major reform of our nation’s chemicals policy.

The Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals is an extension of the outdated Federal Chemical Policy Reform of the 1970s. The 6 principles of the Louisville Charter include:

1. Require Safer Substitutes and Solutions
• In our group assignment, our fragrance free policy discouraged or prohibited employees from wearing any personal products with fragrance in the work setting
• Our fragrance free policy encourages employees to use personal products that are fragrance free
2. Phase Out Persistent, Bioaccumulative, or Highly Toxic Chemicals
• Encouraging employees to substitute their personal care products with fragrance free products helps to phase out highly toxic chemicals in fragrant personal care products
3. Give the Public and Workers the Full Right-to-Know and Participate
• By providing written information and requesting feedback, workers are engaged
4. Act on Early Warnings
• Implementing a fragrance free policy in the work setting is a response to events of sensitivities and allergies from workers and customers
5. Require Comprehensive Safety Data for All Chemicals
• Collecting pre and post chemical/fragrance free policy implementation will help to evaluate its success
6. Take Immediate Action to Protect Communities and Workers
• Implementing a chemical/fragrance free policy is immediate action to protect workers

References

http://smartpolicyreform.org/the-charter/the-louisville-charter