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Canadian Cancer Society Welcomes Commitment to Disclose Ingredients in Consumer Products 02
April
2008
OTTAWA -
The Canadian Cancer Society welcomes today’s announcement by the Canadian Consumer Specialty Product Association (CCSPA) about consumer product labeling as a positive step toward providing Canadians with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions. However, the Society cautions that the measures don’t go far enough. CCSPA announced that its member companies will voluntarily begin disclosing all ingredients in the vast majority of their products on the product’s label, the company’s website, or the company’s toll free number. The CCS is encouraged by this initiative but will continue to advocate that companies should be required to disclose the names of all ingredients on product labels so that customers aren’t required to go the extra step of calling or going online to source ingredient lists, if they are not on the label. “Canadians are increasingly concerned about health effects from substances in their environment, including the products they use,” says Michelle McLean, Manager of Public Issues with the Canadian Cancer Society. On March 6th, the Canadian Cancer Society, The Lung Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation called jointly for the federal government to extend regulatory requirements for full ingredient labeling to all consumer products. It was also recommended that the presence of toxic or carcinogenic substances be identified through the use of a hazard symbol and a clear, plain language statement. Furthermore, the ingredient label and hazard warning should be highly visible at point of purchase and use. The Canadian Cancer Society and its partners advocate for the principle of the Community Right to Know, which asserts that Canadians have a right to be informed about harmful substances in consumer products. “Efforts like those of CCSPA are important first steps toward informing Canadians and we will continue to work with CCSPA and other industry leaders to encourage all manufacturers to disclose all ingredients and hazardous substances on product labels,” says McLean. “We are calling on all parties and legislators to work together to create conditions in which Canadians are empowered to protect their health.” 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. -30- For more information, please contact: Alexa Giorgi Bilingual Communications Specialist Canadian Cancer Society, National office Phone:
(416) 934-5681, Cell: (416) 528-1789
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