Chemical safety requires local government action.In "REACHing for Chemical Safety," Brown (2003) described the European Union's proposed Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) legislation and the shocking ineffectiveness of the laws currently governing toxic chemicals. Brown (2003) also revealed the depressing extent to which U.S. environmental officials, who are supposed to be advocates for the public and the environment, have instead fallen in line with the Bush administration's pro-business policies. Much-needed reform of U.S. policy on chemicals seems remote at best, but glimmers of hope, and possibly the future, exist outside the Washington, DC, Beltway. Last summer, San Francisco, California “San Francisco” redirects here. For other uses, see San Francisco (disambiguation). The City and County of San Francisco (EN IPA: [sænfrənˈsɪskoʊ] , became the first government jurisdiction in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to adopt the precautionary principle The precautionary principle is a moral and political principle which states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate as a controlling environmental policy. San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden has also passed a resolution supporting a strong REACH in Europe, which would clearly benefit the people of California and elsewhere in the United States by promoting a safer global chemicals industry. Local communities and states can and must take environmental protection into their own hands; Californians are showing how bridges to Europe can help bypass the federal government altogether. Official San Francisco websites provide further information on the San Francisco ordinance on the Precautionary Principle Ordinance (SF Environment 2003) and the REACH Resolution (City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislature of San Francisco, California. Government and politics As the official name implies, the City and County of San Francisco is a consolidated city-county, being simultaneously a charter city and charter county 2003). The author declares he has no competing financial interests. Joseph H. Guth Center for Environmental Health Oakland, California “Oakland” redirects here. For other uses, see Oakland (disambiguation). Oakland (IPA: /ˈoʊklənd/), founded in 1852, is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. E-mail: jguth@cehca.org REFERENCES Brown VJ. 2003. REACHing for chemical safety. Environ Health Perspect 111: A766-A769. SF Environment. 2003. SF Precautionary Principle Ordinance. Available: http://sfgov.org/sfenvironment/aboutus/policy/ legislation/precaution_principle.htm [accessed 3 March 2004]. City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors. 2003. Supporting European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community Efforts to Regulate Hazardous Chemicals. Resolution 0715-03. Available: http:// www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs]resolutions03/ r0715-03.pdf [accessed 3 March 2004]. |
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