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What's in It?

Posted August 02, 2009 7:31 AM

Legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives announced on July 6 would require manufacturers of household cleaners, stains and paints, pesticides, and epoxies to list all the ingredients on product labels, not just the active ingredients. Companies would be required to comply a year after the bill's passage. Can the industry learn any lessons from food processors who have had to beef up their nutrition labels? Which governmental agency should have jurisdiction over the new labeling process? Who will enforce compliance?

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Anonymous Poster
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Re: What's in It?

08/16/2009 10:16 AM

This is just another attack on privately owned businesses and especially small and micro-businesses by destroying all rights to privacy concerning trade secrets and increasing both production and administrative costs of the manufacturer. No government agency should have jurisdiction over the product label or the manufacturer's choice to include this information on the label or not. If people are curious as to what is in the product, they, as individuals/entities can request a copy of the product MSDS. This is the kind of agenda-driven political nonsense that does nothing but hurt United States manufacturers and consumers.

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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Central Belt, in the arid part of Sunny Scotland
Posts: 16
#2

Re: What's in It?

08/16/2009 1:53 PM

Au contraire, old chap, the listing of all chemical constituents will not actually hurt American manufacturers, rather the reverse in fact. Over here in Europe we already have legislation that requires such listing of constituents, so should American manufacturers wish to compete in a global market place, they to should comply or find their products banned from the marketplace. If the product is a unique formulation, it should be protected by international patents, which will protect the manufacturers rights by legal means. However should the American manufacturer wish to remain in a parochial market, without any future plans to expand into the international market place, they should clearly mark on their products packaging such wording as 'Solely for Domestic Market Use', or 'Not Legal for Use outside the Jurisdiction of the Continental US of A'. As for which Government Department should be responsible for the new labelling process, Consumer Protection Agency, or Department of Health and Safety (or their US equivalent ) could be suitable starting points.

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