This is a post to the mmasupport list by Cathy-

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:25:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Cathy McCabe <healthi22@yahoo.com>
Subject: [MMA] REACH promises to regulate chemicals in the EU
To: mma@lists.mmsupport.net
Message-ID: <873565.56632.qm@web53902.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
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Hello, Everyone.

I've recently read some very good news.  It has been almost one year since a the European Union developed a new program targeting chemical safety. The program, called REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), is being used to regulate chemicals used in commerce and consumer products. It is estimated that REACH's regulations will apply to 30,000 chemicals used  in Europe. Best of all, and high time, the burden of proof regarding safety for human health and for the environment is on the chemical companies who either manufacture or market chemicals in the EU.

According to Richard Denison of the Environmental Defense Fund, "The information provided by REACH should begin to help overcome the difficulty in linking specific health problems with exposures to specific chemicals or mixtures of chemicals." Although the full effect of REACH's impact won't be known for another 10 years, we can already see its influence in an agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico to assess 9,000 chemicals produced or imported in amounts of 25,000 lbs. or more. Not as strict as the EU standards, but It's a start.  REACH is also influencing policies in states such as Maine and California.

Let's hope REACH's regulations result in both safe products and a clean environment for our children and grandchildren, as well as improved health for all of us MMers.

Cathy