Guidance to the Chemicals in Products (CiP) Programme for non-governmental organizations representing the public interest (NGOs)

Abstract

Chemicals have been recognized as benefit as well as problem for many years. Hazardous chemicals in consumer products pose unnecessary and avoidable health risks to all consumers, although some groups, such as children, adolescents, pregnant women, and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable. Workers who manufacture or handle these products are typically exposed to even higher concentrations of toxic chemicals for longer periods of time, and therefore bear an unacceptable burden of disease and suffering. These avoidable health effects also lead to a progressive rise in health costs. Some key chemicals of concern include toxic flame retardants, phthalates, vinyl chloride, dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals (in particular mercury, cadmium, lead), pesticides and many other hazardous pollutants. Hazardous substances may be corrosives, poisons, mutagens, carcinogens, sensitizers, reproductive and developmental toxicants, and/or endocrine disrupting chemicals. The preceding are for illustration and are not intended to be exhaustive lists of substances of concern, or of chemical hazard categories. Furthermore, nano-sized chemicals may have different physiochemical qualities than the corresponding chemicals as bulk materials, and hence associated hazards. Access to Chemicals in Products (CiP) information is a global issue. It requires collaboration on a worldwide scale, across stakeholder lines and through the entire product life cycles. Sharing information on chemicals in products between all stakeholders involved in the product life-cycles is crucial for protecting human health and the environment. However, few systems are developed and implemented to inform on what exactly is in the product. The lack of information on chemicals in products is a significant obstacle to achieving a reduction in risks from hazardous chemicals. Access to chemicals in products (CiP) information is a necessary condition as well as a prerequisite, to enable sound management of chemicals in everyday articles, not only within manufacturing but also throughout the product life cycles.