Viewpoint: Tory cancer chemical stance disappoints

Prevent Cancer Now (PCN), a national, non-profit coalition of health, environment, labour and other organizations today expressed disappointment with the federal government’s chemical management announcement.  Citing the government’s Chemicals Management Plan website, the group said the so-called plan is a recipe for distraction and inaction.

“Speeding up the process and taking in a wider range of chemicals would help the public right-to-know.  But as a prescription for action, this plan is useless.  There are no scientific criteria for determining what sort of action will be taken,´said David Bennett, PCN Board member and retired director of  Environment, Health, and Safety for the Canadian Labour Congress.    “The government must go beyond the mere management of chemicals, and adopt a program of  prevention of hazards.”

“Much of what is in this announcement is not new at all,” said Angela Rickman, Executive Director of Prevent Cancer Now. “Priority re-evaluations for pesticides were promised by the Liberals five years ago, and are already underway.  Mandatory labeling of cosmetic ingredients and a programme for reducing risk from pharmaceuticals, while worthy and welcome, have been under development for years.  The virtual elimination list is a mechanism of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and while we welcome the addition of the worst substances to the list, it is hardly newsworthy that the government is following its own laws.”

The government says it will reassess 200 priority chemicals over the next 3 years, giving industry and the public 6 month comment periods before a decision is made on what, if any, action is taken.

“Clearly, these 200 chemicals have raised sufficient concern that they have been identified as priorities for action.  Why waste another 3 years and countless dollars on more assessment, while the public and the environment continue to be exposed, when it is clear that we must take action?” asked Guy Dauncey, author and Co-Chair of Prevent Cancer Now.  “Furthermore, these 200 chemicals represent only a tiny fraction of the 23,000 chemicals in everyday use in Canada.”

Canada needs a new approach to chemicals, not more management.  The government will conduct risk assessments of individual chemicals, not considering whether less toxic alternatives exist.  No consideration is given to the combined effects of these chemicals

PCN  has called on the government to ban or strictly regulate carcinogenic chemicals. Labeling ingredients, while a step towards the consumer right to know, must include information on health risks if it is to be effective.  Furthermore, unless carcinogens are banned from all consumer products, including cleaning products,  they should be clearly listed on the label.