94.11PU Policy Update: Chemicals and Hazardous Products
[Whereas], Rationale: The National Council of Women has been concerned about chemicals and hazardous products since 1960, asking for: controls on the sale of carbon tetrachloride to the public and on chemicals used in meat and poultry production; regulating powers for chemicals which affect the ecosystem; phasing out of lead in gasoline; no further cuts to environmental research programs; child resistant packaging for all dangerous household chemicals; safe storage and disposal of hazardous products. Council recognizes that both government and industry have begun to introduce stricter regulatory controls and improved management practices for chemicals, that a “cradle to grave” approach has been adopted, and that under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and Canada’s Green Plan, certain actions have been initiated which answer earlier concerns. An estimated 70,000 chemical products are in use world wide, and 1,000 new ones enter the market each year. The environmental and health effects of long term exposure to low concentrations of chemicals are still uncertain. The State of Canada’s Environment 1992 report indicates that 44 primary substances have been identified for risk assessment (human health and environment) and if necessary will be regulated by 1994 by CEPA.
[RESOLVED], The National Council of Women of Canada urges the Government of Canada to:
1. Expedite efforts to reduce or eliminate the number of toxic substances by continuing to revise the Priority Substance List which proposed to complete 100 risk assessments by the year 2000 or earlier;
2. Continue the notification and testing requirements for new substances, with a view to reducing the number of chemicals available in Canada;
3. Continue to review the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) list of substances and to develop environmental management programs and pollution prevention plans as indicated by the review.