M8.5 Ideal Chemical Policy

Ideal Chemical Policy

The 6 principles of the Louisville Charter are essential for an ideal chemical policy, because they address the issue, recommend solutions and addresses the outcomes from chemical exposure. The 6 principles of the Louisville Charter include:

Require Safer Substitutes and Solutions

By altering production processes and redesigning products and systems to subsitute safer chemcials reduces the use and emissions of hazardous chemicals. Rewarding manufacturers for innovation and incentivizing public and private sectors to invest in research and development of safer sustainable chemicals and products will support safer substitutes and solutions. From a public health perspective, this principle supports the reformation of the manufacturing and production industries to redesign products and systems to substitute safer chemicals. This reformation protects consumers in mass numbers, thus is considered an advancement for public health. 

Phase Out Persistent, Bioaccummulative, or Highly Toxic Chemicals

Implement policies that require companies, manufacturers and other organizations to phase out highly hazardous chemicals that are slow to degrade and cause high burden in living organisms. These policies shouls also ensure that chemicals eliminated in the United States are not exported to other countries. From a public health perspective, this principle acknowledges the public health issues

associated with the ubiquitous use of biotoxic chemicals in our society and offers solutions.  It

supports public accountability and responsibility.

Give the Public and Workers the Full Right-to-Know and Participate

By obligating manufacturers to disclose the chemical and material composition of products to the the workers building them and to the public consumers facilitates the public and workers to be more involve and to practice more informed decision making. Involve public and workers in decisions on chemicals. This principle empowers the public and workers to have better control of environmental exposures and consequently health on a community level.

Act on Early Warnings

Prevent harm from new or existing chemicals when credible evidence of harm exists.

Require Comprehensive Safety Data for All Chemicals
For a chemical to remain on or be placed on the market manufacturers must publicly disclose available safety information about that chemical; its use and hazards from exposure. The previous two principles highlight the goals of public health safety and protection by requiring manufacturers, producers and organizations to produce scientific data that endorses

their products for safe public use.

Take Immediate Action to Protect Communities and Workers

When communities and workers are exposed to levels of hazardous chemicals, immediate action is necessary to eliminate these exposures; this is an intervention that facilitates environmental justice. This principle is the responsibility of government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Health and Human Services. It addresses the consequences and adverse health outcomes experienced by the public.

            Just like the “Healthy People 2020,” 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.

References

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