Backgrounder: Product Labelling and the Community Right to Know

06  March  2008
TORONTO -

Issue:
 

Every day, Canadians are exposed to substances in their environment, the products they use, and in the food they eat that may pose a risk to their health.  This exposure may be in the form of air and water pollutants, common household products, and food additives, to name a few.

Background:

The principle of Community Right to Know asserts that Canadians have a right to be made aware of the air quality in their communities, harmful substances in food and consumer products, and health risks related to workplace contamination. 

Community Right to Know allows us to make informed decisions and take action on our work and living conditions, and empowers us to act as informed consumers. It also encourages proactive improvement by businesses and organizations by disclosing information about harmful ingredients, by supporting the use of less harmful ingredients, and by compelling them to develop and fulfill strategies to lower emissions.

There is a long latency period between the environmental exposure to many toxic substances and disease development in humans—as long as 40 to 50 years.  Today, by reducing or eliminating exposure to substances that may pose a health risk, we have an opportunity to work towards ensuring that future cancers and other diseases linked to environmental exposure do not occur. 

In the past 20 years, Community Right to Know has become a central and successful part of environmental policy in many countries.  For example, in the U.S., emissions of 260 known carcinogens and reproductive toxins dropped by almost 50% after that country passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.

We believe that people have the right to know if they are being exposed to substances that are carcinogenic. We also believe everyone has the right to know about the environmental and occupational risks to which they are being exposed, and the right to make informed decisions on issues that may affect their health. 

Recommendations: 

We recommend that the federal government:

• Identify exposure to toxic substances and require substitutions of proven safer alternatives. When elimination is not possible, exposure should be reduced to the lowest possible levels.
  
  
• Ensure that all ingredients in consumer-based products are fully disclosed with a full ingredient list. In addition, when toxic agents are present in products, they should be identified through the presence of a hazard symbol as well as a clear, plain language statement about the presence of the substance of concern. This messaging should be plainly visible to the consumer at point of sale and at point of use.
  
  
• Establish a national Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), building on current pilot projects, to give Canadians in all parts of the country easy-to-understand information daily on air quality, along with clear recommendations for action to limit exposure to health-threatening conditions.

We recommend that non-government organizations:

Support community and worker right-to-know legislation, advocacy and public education efforts that empower Canadians to make informed decisions about substances in their environment, the products they use and the food they eat that may pose a risk to their health.

What you can do to reduce your exposure to disease causing substances:

Because you don’t know what’s in most of the products you buy, it’s hard to know how to reduce your exposure. However, you can:

• Contact manufacturers of products you use and ask what ingredients are in the products. Manufacturers of cosmetics in Canadamust have a list of ingredients on the product or make them available when requested. Manufacturers of other products may not provide the information, but they might recognize the growing demand for it.
• When you do know the ingredients in a product, check them against the State of California’s list of chemicals that are known, or suspected to, cause cancer, or that disrupt normal reproductive functions.
• Stop using the product if you’re concerned about some of the ingredients. Let the manufacturer know why.

You can also take action to ensure your right to know what you are being exposed to:

• Support local, provincial and federal policies that reduce air pollution
• Visit www.actionEH.ca and send a message to your federal electoral candidates calling on them to take strong action on ensuring your right to know what’s in the products that you use and the air that you breathe.

Ask your federal Member of Parliament to support:

• Ingredient labeling on all consumer products
• a clear warning label on products that contain potentially disease causing substances
• the implementation of a National Air Quality Health Index

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The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.

Established in 1900, The Canadian Lung Association   (www.lung.ca) is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung health issues. 

The Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.

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For more information, please contact:

Alexa Giorgi

Bilingual Communications Specialist

Canadian Cancer Society, National office

Phone:  (416) 934-5338