Dow Recommends Principles For US Chemicals Management Policy Reform

The Dow Chemical Company, along with the American Chemistry Council and other chemical manufacturers, has released guidance for the modernization of US chemical safety laws in Washington DC.

The industry has proposed ten key principles aimed to help build a more effective product stewardship system that ensures consumer safety, while preserving America’s role in the innovation of new technologies and products.

David Kepler, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer of Dow, said: Some might be surprised that our industry is supporting enhanced regulation – but they shouldn’t be. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars annually in evaluation and research to support a robust chemicals management system and we want a result that restores public confidence.

Within the ten guiding principles, there are four themes that reflect the industry’s position on US chemicals management policy, said the company. Dow proposes that: the regulation must be modernized to earn the public’s confidence about the safety of chemical products; safety is a shared responsibility between the government, the chemical industry, partners in the value chain, and consumers; the federal government needs the proper authority, accountability and resources for managing and enforcing a national chemicals management policy; and the chemical industry must be accountable for sharing scientific data and safety information.