Proposed law would require all products to list toxic ingredients

Sarah Schmidt, Canwest News Service, May 2008

OTTAWA — Everyday products sold in Canada — from lipstick to laundry
detergent — would be forced to carry warning labels listing toxic
ingredients as hazardous under a private member's bill backed by consumer
groups.

Bolstered by the environmental law group Toxic Free Canada and the Quebec consumer group Options Consommateur, Peter Julian of the New Democrats tabled legislation Thursday requiring that all products sold in Canada have clear warning labels specifying their toxic substances.

Hazard labelling legislation has already been adopted in the European Union and the State of California.

"Consumers in Europe and consumers in California have the right to know. We're saying that Canadians need that right to know,'' said Julian, who represents the B.C. riding of Burnaby-New Westminster.

In Canada, the cosmetics industry must list all ingredients in their products, but there is no provision in legislation for the identification through hazard labelling of any toxic ingredients.

Personal care products, in particular, contain numerous chemicals, and some are known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, reproductive toxins or immune toxicants. They include lead acetate, ammonium persulfate, phthalates, and dimethylamine.

"You shouldn't have to compare notes from five different sources to figure out what kind of toxic product you're purchasing. The right to know is not the right to do a lot of research so you can eventually find out the health concerns around that product,'' said Julian.

Hazard labelling would use distinct symbols or letters for each hazard class, based on scientific evidence compiled by government agencies. For example, all ingredients designated as carcinogens labelled "C'' and reproductive toxicants labelled "R''.

This would be in addition to current hazard labelling that indicates corrosive, flammable or explosive ingredients.

Mae Burrows, executive director of Toxic Free Canada, came to Ottawa Thursday to lobby for the new bill. The Vancouver-based member of Health Canada's expert panel on international labelling rules for chemicals has been fighting for right-to-know legislation for eight years.

"As a parent, you do what you can do to protect your children in any way you can.''

Michel Arnold, head of Options Consommateur, was also on hand to promote the bill. They brought a sampling of products containing toxic ingredients that would be affected by the legislation, including cleaning agents, mothballs, weed control products, perfume and hair gel.

Darren Praznik, president of the Canadian Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrances Association, said hazard labelling isn't necessary because all products on store shelves are safe.

"If an ingredient presents a risk to human health, that ingredient is either banned or it is restricted to prevent that risk to human health.''

Shannon Coombs, president of the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association, added ``all of our ingredients and products are all regulated under federal laws. Canadians can feel confident about the products they use to make their lives cleaner, safer and healthier.'' The organization last month announced its members will begin voluntary ingredient labelling on
household products in 2010.

"We believe this initiative will provide transparency by listing all ingredients in a way that is meaningful to Canadians.''

But Burrows said these industry groups should take another step and embrace the opportunity to catch up to public opinion; polls commissioned by both Toxic Free Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society found that more than 95 per cent of consumers support right-to-know hazard labelling on consumer products.

"There's a substitute if you look for it. When you identify the hazard, the marketplace does start to drop off and reformulation happens. The manufacturers can still make a buck, except with a greener product.''

Currently, the right-to-know labelling principle in Canada only applies in the workplace; under a national hazard-based information system, workers are provided details about potentially hazardous ingredients in products they use in the workplace and the health dangers associated with them.