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Keeping America Healthy Requires
Science-Based Policy and Regulations

Chemistry Creates, America Competes

Americans deserve high quality science as the foundation for government decision-making on public health

High-quality, transparent, and objective science is crucial to shaping regulatory decisions, legislation, and policies that protect public health and promote food safety. By relying on robust data, policymakers at all levels of government can make informed decisions that foster public trust, support consistent standards, and create policies that are responsive to emerging risks and technologies.

Chemicals play a central role in advancing public health and food safety – from helping to extend shelf life and reducing food waste, to controlling pests and diseases in crops to support food production. Chemicals also prevent microbial contamination and enable food packaging to prevent food contamination and spoilage. Enabling the safe use of chemicals is a shared responsibility of manufacturers, all levels of government, and consumers. Science-driven actions are essential for maintaining a safe, abundant, resilient, and health-focused regulatory system.

The Administration and Congress should champion science and fact-based solutions to make a healthier, more affordable, more competitive America.

 

MAHA Scientist in Lab

We ask policymakers to do the same and look to our guiding principles:

MAHA Principle 1

Protect Public Health Through Risk-Based Policies and Regulations

Risk considers both the potential for harm (hazard) from an exposure and the likelihood that harm will actually occur. Risk-based decision-making is essential for the protection of human health and the environment and supports policies and regulations grounded in scientific evidence and based on real-world exposure scenarios.

  • Safety determinations should integrate hazard, use, and exposure information.
  • Risk management decisions should be consistent with the safety determination and consider the benefits of the chemistry as well as the benefit and cost of alternatives.
  • Federal agencies should make decisions regarding the safety of chemicals and products that are within their statutory jurisdiction only.

MAHA Principle 2

Prioritize Use of Transparent, Objective, Gold Standard Science

Scientific integrity, transparency and objectivity are key to building and maintaining trust and confidence in government decisions.

  • Decisions should be based on scientifically valid data and information.
  • Assessing the full weight of the scientific evidence and acknowledging the uncertainties and limitations of the data are critical.
  • Credible government decision-making should include robust stakeholder engagement and peer review by independent, external experts.

MAHA Principle 3

Support and Sustain Technical and Subject Matter Expertise

Maintaining a strong, dedicated pool of technical and scientific experts is essential to the integrity, quality, and credibility of public health assessments and regulatory decisions.

  • Federal agencies should maintain sufficient staffing and resources.
  • Specialized knowledge, experience, and scientific expertise are critical for interpreting complex data, identifying potential health risks, and developing sound science-based recommendations.
  • A robust pipeline of skilled experts is important for long-term continuity and preparedness. Failing to do so risks delayed regulatory responses and undermines public trust in health protection efforts.

MAHA Principle 4

Focus on Consistently Meeting Statutory Requirements

Regulatory agencies such as FDA, EPA, and USDA should meet their statutory requirements for assessing chemicals, food packaging, food additives, food contact materials, and pesticides to protect public health and the environment.

  • Agencies should focus on the highest priorities with the most significant uses, exposure, and potential for risk.
  • Missing statutory timelines can delay critical regulatory actions, undermine public trust, and create uncertainty for both the public and industry.
  • Regulatory inaction or delays can lead to legal challenges, strain agency resources, and hinder innovation.
  • Agencies should proactively work with state regulators to avoid a patchwork of state regulations.

MAHA Principle 5

Drive Modernization of Government Frameworks Based on Data and Fact

Transparent and objective frameworks for chemicals management, food safety evaluations and pesticide reviews are important in regulatory decisions.

  • Decisions about chemicals, food additives, food packaging, pesticides and other substances should be based on best-available science, reproducible evidence, and clear criteria—not political pressure.
  • Input from consumers, scientists, and industry promotes transparency in regulatory frameworks.
  • Approaches should be updated to reflect advances in science and technology and framed as forward-looking enhancements rather than critiques of past policy designs or disparaging existing frameworks or decisions unless new and relevant information becomes available.