COPENHAGEN CHARTER AND SAFER CHEMICALS

Early day motion 173, tabled 17 July 2001 by Julia Drown (Labour). Signed by 239 members.

That this House is concerned at the potential impact of some industrial chemicals on human health and the environment; supports the Copenhagen Charter which calls for a safety assessment of all chemicals to ensure that their use is safe beyond reasonable doubt; calls for the substitution of less safe chemicals with safer alternatives wherever practical and for the phasing out of chemicals that accumulate in human bodies or the environment, and for consumers to have a right to know which chemicals are in products they buy; and urges the Government to support regulations based on the Charter which is backed by over 70 consumer and environmental groups across Europe.

Signatures by party: Labour 141, Liberal Democrat 43, Conservative 26, Labour/Co-operative 9, DUP 5, Scottish National Party 5, UUP 5, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1.