Regulating toxic substances in consumer products

In 2000, a report by CELA and the Ontario College of Family Physicians included a detailed analysis of the shortcomings of the Hazardous Products Act in general, and the regulation of lead in consumer products and pesticides, in particular.1 Since that time, we have been at the forefront of Canadian activity summarizing the research about the greater exposure and vulnerability of children to toxic [...] C., c. 869) 20 Directive 2003/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 February 2003 amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products. [...] Of particular note are the Government of Canada Regulatory Policy,27 the Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation,28 the Guide to the Regulatory Process for Treasury Board Secretariat Program Analysts,29 the Toxic Substances Management Policy,30 and the Framework for the Application of Precaution in Science-Based Decision Making about Risk.31 These policies include either a requirement to cons [...] In its very different cross-governmental role, the Auditor General commented in the Annual Report for 200033 on the Government of Canada Regulatory Policy, noting that the government: … should explain to Canadians and the government’s regulatory and inspection community its priorities for health and safety regulatory programs, particularly the balance that the government has reached to protect Can [...] In our view, there is a need for the government to clarify the priorities of the regulatory policy for health and safety regulatory programs and clarify the balance it has reached to protect Canadians[,] and address costs and other objectives.