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Organizational Links

Many organizations are working on chemicals and chemicals policy issues in the US and around the world. What follows is not a comprehensive list of those organizations, only those whose work we are aware of. If you know of an organization that has not been included and you would like to add to the list, please contact us!

General Information and News on Chemicals Policy

US Federal Government

US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPT) — OPPT coordinates several chemicals management programs including implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the High Production Volume Challenge Program, the Voluntary Children’s Testing Program, the Design for Environment Program, among others. The OPPT website contains information on all of these programs and links to other connected programs such as the Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Substances Program.
[Go to website]

USEPA Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemical Program — The goal of the Agency-wide Multimedia Strategy for Priority Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Pollutants Strategy is to identify and reduce risks to human health and the environment from current and future exposure to priority PBT pollutants. The approach includes the development and implementation of national action plans for priority PBT pollutants, building on work initiated under the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy and using regulatory action where voluntary efforts are insufficient.
[Go to website]

Toxics Release Inventory Program — The Toxic Release Inventory is the world’s premier right to know program regarding toxic chemical emissions and waste from manufacturing and other facilities. The program has provided a strong incentive for chemical users to reduce chemical waste, emissions, and use. Data are publicly available.
[Go to website]

Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy — provides a framework for actions to reduce or eliminate persistent toxic substances, especially those which bioaccumulate, from the Great Lakes Basin. The Strategy was developed jointly by Canada and the United States in 1996 and 1997 and was signed April 7, 1997.
[Go to website]

US Canada International Joint Commission — The 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty established the Commission, which has six members. The Commission has set up more that 20 boards, made up of experts from the United States and Canada, to help it carry out its responsibilities. The Commission examines water and air quality issues in the Great Lakes region. It has conducted scientific research and issued policy recommendations on reduction of industrial pollutants in the region.
[Go to website]

Commission on Environmental Cooperation (North American Free Trade Agreement) — The CEC was established to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and to promote the effective enforcement of environmental law. The CEC has a program in cross-border chemicals management and is in charge of the regional program on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
[Go to website]

US Office of Technology Assessment closed on September 29, 1995. During its 23-year history, OTA provided Congressional members and committees with objective and authoritative analysis of the complex scientific and technical issues of the late 20th century. It was a leader in practicing and encouraging delivery of public services in innovative and inexpensive ways, including distribution of government documents through electronic publishing. An archive of OTA reports is available.
[Go to website]

US State Government

Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute — The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) was created to promote reduction in the use of toxic chemicals and the generation of toxic by-products in industry and commerce in the state of Massachusetts. TURI works with other state agencies, industry, and advocacy organizations to develop strategies to reduce chemical risks in the state. The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction program has resulted in substantial reductions in toxic chemical use, by-product generation, and emissions, while saving Massachusetts companies money. The TURI website contains information on alternative technologies, impacts of chemicals, and data on chemical use and releases in the state.
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Washington State Department of Ecology — The Department of Ecology is Washington’s principal environmental management agency. The Department is in charge of implementing Washington State’s program on reduction of PBTs. The website contains information on the program and its implementation.
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California Department of Toxic Substance Control — The Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC, protects California and Californians from exposures to hazardous wastes. DTSC is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency, or Cal/EPA and implements California’s Proposition 65 Program.
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New Jersey Technical Assistance Program for Industrial Pollution Prevention — As a premier environmental pollution prevention extension service NJTAP’s mission is to deliver technical assistance to New Jersey companies and to promote improvement in industrial processes leading to elimination, reduction, and reuse of wastes before consideration of control and ultimate disposal.
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Association of Bay Area Governments Dioxins Project — City and county governments around the San Francisco Bay Area have adopted resolutions calling for the elimination of dioxin-like compounds. This website describes those efforts.
[Go to website]

US Academic

Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University (GDAE) — A center of expertise in economics, policy, science and technology. The Institute has produced more than a dozen books and numerous articles, policy documents, and discussion papers. These materials are being used in academic settings, to enhance the teaching of economics and related subjects, and in policy circles, where GDAE researchers are recognized leaders in their fields.
[Go to website]

US Environmental and Health Advocacy

Coming Clean — Coming Clean is a network of groups and individuals whose common goal is to work together on chemical policies and campaigns to protect public health and the environmental from exposures to harmful and unstudied chemicals.
[Go to website]

Environmental Working Group (EWG) — EWG is a not-for-profit environmental research organization dedicated to improving public health and protecting the environment by reducing pollution in air, water and food. EWG has conducted pioneering research on the body burden of chemicals.
[Go to website]

Health Care Without Harm — Health Care Without Harm is a campaign to transform the health care industry worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. The campaign has worked to substitute problem materials in hospitals such as PVC plastics, mercury and latex.
[Go to website]

Healthy Building Network (HBN) — HBN is a national network of environmental and health activists, socially responsible investment advocates, green building professionals and others who are interested in promoting healthier building materials as a means of improving public health and preserving the global environment.
[Go to website]

Oregon Toxics Alliance — The Alliance is a statewide grassroots organization working to eliminate contamination and unnecessary toxics use and the harm they cause to human health and the environment. OTA is committed to achieving fundamental changes in the practices and policies that permit toxics use and contamination.
[Go to website]

National Environmental Trust (NET) — NET is a non-profit, non-partisan membership group established in 1994 to inform citizens about environmental problems and how they affect our health and quality of life. NET’s public education campaigns present the latest scientific studies and public opinion research so that Americans from all walks of life can understand complex environmental issues.
[Go to website]

Clean Production Action — Clean Production Action is a network of environmental, labor, and academic institutions dedicated to technical assistance, outreach, and advocacy on cleaner production and product policy. The network provides links between US and European advocacy organizations on chemicals and product policies.
[Go to website]

Environmental Defense — Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization that links science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society’s most urgent environmental problems. Environmental Defense has initiated several groundbreaking efforts on ignorance about toxic substancesand the need for policies to address this, including the Scorecard database.
[Go to website]
[Go to website] (Scorecard)

National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) — NRDC is a non-profit organization that uses law, science, to protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. NRDC has taken an active role in examining links between environmental exposures and effects on human health.
[Go to website]

Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) — WTC is a non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to protecting public health and the environment by identifying and promoting alternatives to toxic chemicals and pollution. WTC has actively campaigned forimplementation of Washington’s PBT policy.
[Go to website]

Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT) — AHT is a coalition of citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards. AHT’s goal is to correct fundamental flaws in government policies that allow harm to our health and environment, and create proactive policies to prevent harm before the damage is done, and to choose the safest alternatives.
[Go to website]

National Pollution Prevention Rountable — The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable is an organization representing local, state and federal government officials orking on implementation of pollution prevention. The organization takes a lead role in promoting pollution prevention strategies at the local, state and federal levels as well as supporting private initiatives on pollution prevention.
[Go to website]

Right to Know Network — The Network provides critical information on toxic substances and their emissions in the environment. The Network uses government databases on pollution to provide critical information to citizen organizations.
[Go to website]

Inform, Inc — Inform, Inc. is an independent research organization that examines the effects of business practices on the environment and on human health. It prepares eports on the use of toxic substances, preventive policies, and alternative materials that are used by government, industry, and environmental leaders around the world. Inform has conducted extensive research on toxic chemical use and reduction, product policy, and green procurement.
[Go to website]

Collaborative on Health and Environment — The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) is a diverse partnership network of individuals and organizations working collectively to advance knowledge and effective action to address growing concerns about the links between human health and environmental factors. CHE recently updated their Toxicants and Disease Database, available here.
[Go to website]

US Industry Groups

American Chemistry Council (ACC) — The ACC represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. The Council is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental esearch and product testing.
[Go to website]

The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) — SOCMA is the leading trade association serving the specialty-batch and custom chemical industry. Its more than 320 member companies have more than 2,000 manufacturing sites. SOCMA hosts an annual international chemicals conference where chemicals policy issues are regularly discussed.
[Go to website]

EU Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium — The EU Committee represents the views of American business operating in Europe. Members of he EU Committee are major investors in Europe and have employees in almost every Member State of the European Union. The EU Committee supports European integration and aims to provide positive input into the development of EU policy.
[Go to website]

The Alliance for Chemical Awareness — The Alliance is an initiative of the business community to enhance the availability of information to the public about major chemicals in commerce, with a particular focus on the High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals that have been the subject of public/private chemical testing programs.
[Go to website]

European Union

The European Commission is the administrative body of the European Union, representing the collective interests of member states. Its various Directorate Generals serve as administrative agencies in charge of implementing European Union policies. European Commission official documents (white papers, green papers, communications, etc.), containing links to various official positions and policy papers on chemicals and other environmental issues are available at:
[Go to website]

Environment Directorate General (DG Environment) Chemicals — The Environment Directorate General is in charge of implementation of various environmental policies involving chemicals management and product design. DG Environment has worked closely with DG Enterprise to develop new European integrated chemicals policies. The website contains links to numerous reports prepared for the European White Paper process.
[Go to website]

Enterprise Directorate General (DG Enterprise) Chemicals — The Enterprise Directorate General coordinates commerce-related issues in the European Commission. It administers environmental policies affecting the internal European market. Its chemicals website has links to numerous stakeholder positions, government policies, and links to various websites.
[Go to website]

European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) — The ECB is a European Union research institution dedicated to chemicals risk assessment and analysis, coordination and harmonization of testing methods, and implementation of various chemicals directives. Site contains European risk assessments and risk management plans for several priority substances.
[Go to website]

European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods Scientific Information Service (ECVAM) — ECVAM studies and develops advanced alternative procedures to animal experiments. It provides a database of factual and evaluated information on advanced non-animal methods for toxicology assessments.
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European Environment Agency (EEA) — The EEA is a European Union administrative agency that aims to support sustainable development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe’s environment through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy making agents and the public. The Agency has conducted extensive research on chemicals information in the European Union as well as on the precautionary principle and failures in its implementation – Late Lessons from Early Warnings.
[Go to website]

Eurolex — Eurolex is the website of legislation in force in the European Union.
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European Parliament — One of the governing bodies of the European Union, it debates legislative and policy proposals submitted by the European Commission. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy generally reviews policy and legislation related to chemicals.
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European Council — One of the governing bodies of the European Union, consisting of representatives of Member States, the European Council recommends policy initiatives and debates legislative and policy proposals submitted by the European Commission.
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European Nations

Swedish Ministry of the Environment — The Ministry coordinates environmental policy for Sweden and has taken the lead in implementing the Swedish Environmental Quality Objectives, including efforts to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals.
[Go to website]

KemI (Swedish National Chemicals Inspectorate) — The National Chemicals Inspectorate (KemI) is a supervisory authority under the Swedish Ministry of the Environment. KemI conducts research on health effects of toxic chemicals and pesticides, develops information databases and health and environmental metrics, and issues reports on environmental quality. KemI has conducted substantial research on chemicals risk management. Many KemI reports are available on this website.
[Go to website]

Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment — The Ministry is in charge of Dutch environmental policy and has coordinated the Strategy on Management of Substances program. These documents are all available on the Ministry’s website.
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Danish Environmental Protection Agency — The Danish EPA is in charge of day to day chemicals and product management policy in Denmark and has undertaken several programs on chemicals management including action plans, lists of undesirable substances and research on alternatives. The EPA’s website contains most of the Danish government’s policy documents as well as information chemicals in products.
[Go to website]

Norwegian Pollution Control Authority — The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, in collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry of Environment coordinates the State of the Environment Norway website which contains information on chemicals management and policy initiatives in the country. Norway is not an EU member state but participates in the European Economic Agreement.
[Go to website]

German Federal Environmental Ministry — The German Federal Environment Ministry has overall charge of chemicals policy for Germany and works closely with the German Environmental Protection Agency (UBA).
[Go to website]

German Federal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health — This Institute coordinates the country’s occupational safety as well as other efforts, including managing new chemical substances notifications for Germany. The Institute has initiated several projects on chemicals substitution including identifying recommendable substitutes for certain categories of chemicals.
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German Federal Ministry of Education and Research – Sustainable Substitution of Hazardous Chemicals — The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has initiated a project to develop strategies for more effective substitution of hazardous chemicals. Through case studies and meetings, the project expects to improve the technical and policy basis for substitution.
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UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) — DEFRA is in charge of developing UK environmental policy. It coordinates UK Stakeholder Forum on chemicals policy.
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UK House of Lords — The UK House of Lords provides analysis and documentation of European policies that have impacts in the United Kingdom. They have produced analyses on both the European White Paper on Chemicals as well as on animal testing questions.
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UK Health and Safety Executive — The Health and Safety Executive implements the United Kingdom’s occupational health and safety standards. It has worked with small and medium sized companies on chemicals assessment and substitution through its COSHH Essentials program.
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UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution — The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution is an independent standing body established in 1970 to advise the Queen, the Government, Parliament and the public on environmental issues. The Commission is developing a report on future chemicals strategies to be released in 2003.
[Go to website]

UK Environment Agency — The Environment Agency Coordinates day to day permitting, environmental monitoring and assessment for the UK government. It is developing research and action strategies on chemicals.
[Go to website]

European and International Industry

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) — CEFIC is both the forum and the voice of the European chemical industry. It represents, directly or indirectly, about 40,000 large, medium and small chemical companies which employ about two million people and account for more than 30% of world chemical production.
[Go to website]

Chemicals Policy Review (sponsored by the European Chemicals Industry Council) — This website provides information on the European White Paper on chemicals process as well as stakeholder positions and analyses.
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International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) — ICCA is a confederation of chemical industry trade associations, has instituted an international program at chemicals testing and research. It has also established a voluntary chemicals management declaration.
[Go to website]

British Chemical Distributors and Traders Association (BCDTA) — BCDTA is a trade organization representing Britain’s chemical traders, distributors, and merchants. It has extensive position papers on European White Paper process.
[Go to website]

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment on Ingredients of Household Cleaning Products (HERA) — HERA is a voluntary industry program established in 1999 by several trade groups to carry out rapid human and environmental risk assessments on ingredients of household cleaning products and to integrate these with appropriate risk management measures.
[Go to website]

European NGOs

Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud of Comisiones Obreras (ISTAS) (In Spanish) — ISTAS is a research institute of the Spanish trade union confederation Comisiones Obreras which has an active program in Cleaner Production and chemical substitution. Site includes ISTAS publication Daphnia International (in English).
[Go to website]
[Go to website] (Daphnia International)

European Environmental Bureau (EEB) — EEB is a coordinating body for European advocacy organizations, based in Brussels. EEB has taken a lead in supporting environmental organizations at the member state level in chemicals policy and has issued several reports on the European White Paper process.
[Go to website]

Friends of the Earth — Friends of the Earth is a grassroots environmental advocacy organization which has produced several reports on chemicals policy, testing, and right to know, particularly in the UK.
[Go to website]
[Go to website] (resources on chemicals)

Greenpeace International Toxics Campaign — Greenpeace has taken a lead on reduction of organochlorine compounds, including PVC plastics as well as a focus on protection of the marine environment. Greenpeace’s laboratory at Exeter University in the United Kingdom has conducted extensive research on chemical contamination and health effects of chemicals.
[Go to website]

International Chemical Secretariat — The International Chemical Secretariat is a joint venture between four Swedish environmental organisations; the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, WWF Sweden, Fältbiologerna and Friends of the Earth Sweden dedicated to advancing chemicals policies at the Member State and EU levels through information, education, and coordination of other NGO efforts.
[Go to website]

World Wildlife Fund Global Toxics Initiative — WWF’s Global Toxics Initiative has played an international leadership role in assessing the global risks posed to health and wildlife by exposure to persistent organic chemicals, including endocrine disrupting. WWF provides seeks public policies to prevent such exposures and develop alternative substances. WWF’s Initiative will link information on the REACH program internationally.
[Go to website]

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen SSNC) — SSNC is the biggest nature conservation and environmental organization in Sweden has an active campaign to phase out the use of brominated fire retardants.
[Go to website]

British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) — BUAV is dedicated to reducing the use of animals in toxicity experiments. The organization provides input to improve the European chemicals policy process.
[Go to website]

European Coalition to End Animal Experiments — The Coalition is dedicated to reducing the use of animals in toxicity experiments.
[Go to website]

NewS (A New Strategy for the Risk Management of Chemicals) — NewS is a Swedish research program dedicated to creating a scientific base for the international work on controlling chemical substances.
[Go to website]

Other Countries

Environment Canada: Pollution — Environment Canada is the Canadian government’s administrative agency in charge of chemicals management. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA 99) contains various chemicals policy and precautionary principle provisions.
[Go to website]

Japanese Ministry of the Environment — This website provides information on chemicals initiatives of the Japanese Ministry of Environment, including POPs, endocrine disruptors, and right to know. The Ministry is the Japanese government agency in charge of chemicals management activities.
[Go to Website]

International Organizations

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Chemical Safety — The OECD harmonizes international standards for chemicals testing, and has initiated a program in sustainable chemistry. The Organization also conducts extensive research into industry trends. OECD has issued reports on chemical industry trends and applications of the precautionary principle.
[Go to website]

OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic — The OSPAR Convention entered into force on 25 March 1998. The OSPAR Commission administers the OSPAR Convention which establishes policies to prevent persistent and bioaccumulative pollution as well as waste dumping. The website contains relevant decisions and background information.
[Go to website]

United Nations Environment Programme: Chemicals — UNEP Chemicals is the center for all chemicals-related activities of the United Nations Environment Programme. Its goal is to help governments take needed global actions for the sound management of chemicals, by promoting the exchange of information on chemicals, and by helping to build the capacities of countries around the world to use chemicals safely. UNEP Chemicals administers the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent. It also administers the Strategic Approach to Chemicals Program.
[Go to website]
[Go to website] (Stockholm Convention related documents)
[Go to website] (Rotterdam Convention related documents)

United Nations Environment Programme – Industry and Environment Office – Cleaner Production — The UNEP Industry and Environment Office has an active program in promoting Cleaner Production through outreach, National Pollution Prevention Centers and reports. The website has a database of clean production case studies.
[Go to website]

United Nations Institute for Training and Research — UNITAR was established in 1965 as an autonomous body within the United Nations with the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of the Organization through appropriate training and research. The Institute has initiated a program aimed at assisting countries, particularly developing countries, in developing integrated chemicals management programs.
[Go to website]

Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) — The IFCS was created by the International Conference on Chemical Safety held in Stockholm in April 1994. The forum is a unique, overarching mechanism for cooperation among governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for the promotion of chemical risk assessment and the environmentally sound management of chemicals. The Forum develops international voluntary approaches to chemicals management.
[Go to website]

Interorganization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) — The IOMC was established in 1995 as a mechanism for coordinating the efforts of various international agencies in the assessment and management of chemicals. Has working groups on chemical accident prevention, destruction of obsolete pesticides and industrial chemicals, harmonization of classification and labeling, and right to know.
[Go to website]

Helsinki Commission — The Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between Denmark, Estonia, the European Community, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. HELCOM is the governing body of the “Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area.”
[Go to website]

International Conferences on Protection of the North Sea — The aim of the North Sea Conferences is to provide political impetus for the intensification of the work within relevant international bodies, and to ensure more efficient implementation of the existing international rules related to the marine environment in all North Sea States. There have been five North Sea Conferences with statements on reduction of hazardous chemicals and use of precautionary approaches.
[Go to website]


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