California launches nation's first green chemistry program.

ger's (R-CA) signature on Sep-tember 29, California became the first U.S. state to approve two laws that will move its regulatory scheme toward a comprehensive chemicals policy. The legislation is intended to improve public and environmental health protection and encourage green chemistry-the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. A broad coalition of business and environmental groups, including the Chemical Industry Council of California (CICC) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), praised both laws and the process. But other experts say that these first steps fall short of establishing a green chemistry program. Paul Anastas, director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University and former member of Cali-fornia's Green Chemistry Initiative Science Advisory Panel, criticizes the new laws. " The panel emphasized the need to support research and development of safe chemical products and processes, to support green chemistry education , and to provide incentives for industries to rework existing processes, " he says. " These recommendations are not included in the new laws. " The laws do not incorporate the comprehensive approach adopted last year by the EU. The sweeping Registration, Evaluation , Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) program puts the onus on companies to provide data proving that their products are safe for particular uses. No program similar to REACH exists in the U.S.; the law designed to regulate chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act has numerous shortcomings. The new laws (AB 1879 and SB 509) give the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) 2 years to identify and prioritize " chemicals of concern , " a term that is currently undefined in the laws but is likely to include substances that are considered to be toxic, persistent , and bioaccumulative. The laws mandate a Green Ribbon Science Panel to advise California officials on implementation efforts, and they will expand the role of the Environmental Policy Council, which comprises leaders of all of the state environmental departments. The legislative package includes a new online Toxics Information Clearinghouse for businesses and consumers. A 2006 University of California report commissioned by the legislature established the framework for the bills and called on the state to move away from a chemical by chemical approach and toward a more comprehensive policy. " We found that chemical markets have great information about function, price, and performance, …