October 16, 2007
American Chemistry Council President and CEO Jack Gerard expressed deep regret that California Governor Schwarzenegger chose to sign a bill banning certain phthalates from some toys and childcare articles, but expressed the hope that the act would not imperil the state's future plans for addressing chemical health and safety issues in a rational and science-based way.
"This law is the product of the politics of fear. It is not good science, and it is not good government," said Gerard. "Thorough scientific reviews in this country and in Europe have found these toys safe for children to use. California businesses will now be obliged to take products off the shelves that their customers need and want."
"Next year, we hope that policy makers and special interest groups will abandon their chemical-by-chemical, attack strategy and put their support behind the state's Green Chemistry Initiative. Public health and safety is best protected by decisions driven by the experts, and based on the evidence."
