State to regulate toxics in consumer products

California made environmental history once again when Gov. Schwarzenegger signed two bills designed to regulate toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products. The new regulatory initiative, called the Green Chemistry Initiative, is the first of its kind. Until now, no state agency has had the authority to regulate toxic chemicals in products and take action to protect consumers through product bans, use restrictions or labeling.

AB 1879 (Feuer) would give the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) first ever authority to evaluate the safety of all chemicals in consumer products using the best available science. SB 509 (Simitian) would set up a website for consumers to learn more about the toxins in products. The bills are part of a larger initiative to overhaul the way chemicals are allowed into the environment. Instead of the burden of proof being on the public to prove harm, the preferable policy framework is to require the chemical industry to prove a chemical is safe. Read more about this latest victory and about our Green Chemistry Initiative campaign.