The Precautionary Principle in Action:
Worldwide

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition whose mission is to transform the health care industry worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment.

International Treaties and Negotiations - The Precautionary Principle has guided a number of international treaties and negotiations including the Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as well as the Geneva Convention, the International POP's Treaty, and the Kyoto Protocol.

European Union REACH Chemical Regulation - On October 28th, 2003 the European Commission adopted its legislative proposal for sweeping reform in chemicals policy, called REACH. The legislation, if enacted, requires that all chemicals used in commerce over 1 ton per year have basic toxicity and risk information within an 11 year period. It also requires that chemicals of very high concern be treated like drugs - that is, only uses that are approved by government authorities before going to market will be permitted. The legislation will now be debated by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers, with enactment as early as 2006.

REACH is revolutionary in that it actually shifts the burden of proof to the proponent of an activity to test their own products for safety, a basic tenet of the precautionary principle. It also considers some substances so dangerous that they are de facto banned, unless a compelling case is made why they should continue to be used in particular circumstances. This is a good example of alternatives analysis in practice.

The American government, with support from the American chemical industry, lobbied fiercely against the proposed European legislation. (United Press International - EU Chemicals law causes stink)

But the Bush Administration doesn't speak for everyone. In order to show that there is support in the United States for REACH and its precautionary approach to toxics, San Francisco passed a Resolution Supporting European Union Efforts to Regulate Hazardous Chemicals on October 28th, 2003. Read the resolution here.

Related Article
SF Chronicle- REACHing for chemical safety/California could lead nation on reducing workplace exposures

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