"Long a pacesetter in efforts to control dangerous chemicals, California is moving toward sweeping new rules to reduce toxins in cleaning products, cosmetics, electronics, toys and possibly many other consumer goods."
"They are among the most cutting-edge codes of their kind since 1986, when voters passed Proposition 65. That law set a national precedent by forcing businesses to warn customers if they “knowingly and intentionally” expose people to chemicals the state determined to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Otherwise, regulators often deeming chemicals or other compounds safe until proven harmful.
The newly proposed Safer Consumer Products Regulations will be debated by industry, academics and environmentalists for months as they move toward final form in late 2012.
They would roughly quadruple the number of chemicals targeted by the state and require companies not just to notify consumers, but to look for less-damaging alternatives. Companies must phase out toxins, do more research, take other measures approved by regulators or face fines of $25,000 per day."
Mike Lee reports for the San Diego Union-Tribune November 12, 2011.
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