Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Landmark Green Chemistry Bills
Sacramento – California made environmental history again today when Governor Schwarzenegger signed two major environmental bills designed to regulate, for the first time, toxic chemicals in consumer products. The bills, AB 1879 (Feuer) and SB 509 (Simitian), are designed to reduce Californian’s exposure to dangerous chemicals.
“We applaud Governor Schwarzenegger for taking another historic step in protecting the public from toxic chemicals,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro with Environment California. “Toxic chemicals do not belong in consumer products and California now has a new regulatory tool to protect consumers.”
There are currently over 80,000 chemicals on the market in the U.S., the vast majority of which lack even basic information on health effects and toxicity. Many widely-used chemicals have known or probable links to cancer, birth defects, reproductive impacts, and other health problems such as learning disabilities. AB 1879 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 and then take action to reduce the public’s exposure via product or chemical bans, use restrictions or labeling. SB 509 would set up a website for consumers to learn more about the toxins in products.
“Assemblymember Feuer and Senator Simitian have done it again,” said Del Chiaro. “Once again these two legislators have championed two of the most significant environmental policies in the country.”
As Environment California celebrated the bills becoming law, they cautioned that there is much work ahead before consumer products are safe and free of toxic chemicals. 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 ultimate policy framework is to require the chemical industry to prove a chemical is safe.
“Ultimately, these bills are not the end but simply the beginning of a whole new regulatory process to protect public health from toxic chemicals.”
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs landmark Green Chemistry bills (AB 1879 and SB 509) as Senator Simitian (in the yellow tie), Environment California's Bernadette Del Chiaro (middle), Assemblymembers Feuer and Blakeslee (to the right of the governor), and others look on.
