More than 99% of new industrial chemicals could go unregulated under a dangerous new proposal by the government.
New plans outlined by Assistant Health Minister David Gillespie would give industry the final say as to whether chemicals are fit for sale -- meaning they could hit shelves before proper safety assessments have been made.
This is an environmental and public health scandal: these chemicals are used in cosmetics, petrol, paint, as well as construction and manufacturing processes. Without proper regulation, our homes, schools, workplaces, and the environment could all be under threat.
Let’s turn up the pressure and tell Malcolm Turnbull that we want the chemical industry regulated properly!
Malcolm Turnbull, don’t let industry self-regulate: we want to see chemicals properly assessed before they go to market!
Thousands of potentially toxic chemicals are reported to the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) every year.
If the new proposal goes through, NICNAS would assess less than 1% of new chemicals before they go on sale.
The government claims the cut backs could save industry around $23 million -- but is it worth the risk, if the price we pay is our health?
Cancer Council's occupational and environmental cancers committee Chairman Terry Slevin said that, while a chemical may be considered safe today, "in ten years’ time we might have evidence to suggest we were mistaken.”
The risk is too high.
SumOfUs members like you have fought the chemical industry around the globe.
Our community in Europe helped make France become the first country to decide to ban neonics -- dangerous pesticides that are contributing to the global bee die-off.
And in our campaign to stop glyphosate -- the key ingredient in Monsanto’s toxic RoundUp -- we worked with our partners to get a whopping 1 million signatures from European voters. Which means the EU Commission has to formally address our concerns. People power works.
Together, we can stop this: together, we’re stronger.
Malcolm Turnbull: stop bending to corporate interests and put the health of people and planet first!
More information
Canberra Times.
Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August 2017.