Massachusetts bill would force substitutions

04 February 2008 22:19  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--US chemical and plastics industries warned on Monday that legislation pending in Massachusetts could force producers to stop using some feedstocks and halt production of end-user items.

 

The Massachusetts State Senate has approved a bill, titled “The Safer Alternatives Act,” which would require chemical companies and others who use unspecified toxic chemicals to switch to safer substitutes when feasible by a deadline yet to be determined.

 

The bill, Senate No. 2481, would provide a “business transition assistance plan” in circumstances where “switching to safer feasible alternatives involves significant cost to the chemical user,” according to information provided by the measure’s author, Massachusetts Senator Steven Tolman, a Democrat representing Boston.

 

Companies would be allowed to apply for an exemption from the bill’s mandates if they could “demonstrate why there is no safer alternative that is technically or economically feasible for their particular use”.

 

A government mandate to move commerce and manufacturing away from toxic chemicals is necessary, Tolman’s office said, because “a vast body of scientific evidence has shown that toxic chemicals are contributing to widespread diseases and disorders throughout Massachusetts”.

 

The legislation also is necessary, he said, because “The global and US markets are requiring toxic chemical elimination and this bill will help Massachusetts businesses catch up and compete in the changing marketplace”.

 

The senator’s office noted that the EU has begun to enforce its programme for registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals (REACH), and that 37% of the state’s trade is with EU member nations.

 

“Massachusetts would risk losing 9,000 jobs if industries fail to comply with REACH,” Tolman’s office said, citing research by Tufts University economists.

 

However, Steve Rosario, a government relations official with the American Chemistry Council (ACC), charged that the Massachusetts bill “is an attempt to impose inherently safer technology” (IST) on the state’s chemicals manufacturers.

 

“We believe this bill would have a very meaningful negative impact on the chemicals industry and other manufacturing in Massachusetts,” Rosario said.  He said the bill’s authors implicitly recognise that the measure will drive business out of Massachusetts because the legislation includes $1.5m (€1m) to retrain workers “who lose their jobs due to the implementation of this act”.

 

The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) also raised concerns about the bill, which is awaiting action in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

 

“This legislation will impact materials manufacturers and processors as well as manufacturers of end products,” the society said.

 

“The bill uses REACH’s categorisation system, designating substances of ‘high concern’ based on hazard rather than risk,” the society added.

 

($1.00 = €0.68)

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly