US industry welcomes deal with Canada, Mexico

21 August 2007 23:10  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--US chemical industry officials welcomed on Tuesday a new three-nation toxicity testing programme between the US, Canada and Mexico, saying it will co-ordinate each country’s regulation of toxic substances.

 

American Chemistry Council (ACC) president Jack Gerard said the tripartite agreement - announced at a summit meeting on Tuesday in Montebello, Quebec - will “advance risk assessment and evaluation of chemicals under each country’s regulatory framework”.

 

The US Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) said the three-county agreement will co-ordinate chemicals regulation in North America.

 

“This initiative makes a lot of sense, both for consumers and for industry, SDA president Ernie Rosenberg said.  “We need a credible chemical management system, harmonized with Canada and Mexico, to give the public confidence that our products are safe to use.”

 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the deal worked out between the US, Canada and Mexico on regulation of moderate-volume chemicals “will ensure that these chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize risk to health and the environment”.

 

Moderate-volume chemicals are those produced in quantities of 25,000 pounds (11.3 tonnes)or more annually.  Those chemicals number between 9,000 and 10,000 substances.

 

The US has a nine-year-old high production volume (HPV) testing programme that has established toxicity profiles on some 2,800 compounds that are manufactured or imported in quantities of 100,000 pounds (450 tonnes) or more annually.

 

Gerard said the three-nation agreement for a risk-based assessment of moderate-volume chemicals will build on the process used in the HPV programme.

 

Rosenberg said the deal “will ensure co-ordination of regulatory processes, promote best practices, offer a forum to share information and keep the health and protection of consumers as a priority”.

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

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