Lack of chemicals information has caused public 'crisis in confidence'

"More information must be obtained to reverse the general public's poor perception of chemicals, say regulatory leaders in Europe and the US. Speaking at Chemical Watch’s Global Business Summit this week, head of Echa Bjorn Hansen and Nancy Beck, principal deputy assistant administrator for the US EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, agreed that the public’s view and awareness of chemicals is low. Mr Hansen said this is largely due to a lack of information. ""Authorities, NGOs and industry lack information. However, we are on the right road to getting this information, which will enable us to make the right decisions and, once we achieve this, we can start regaining the confidence of the public,"" he said. Echa’s database which will require companies to provide information on candidate list substances in articles, is a ""good start"" to achieving this, Mr Hansen said."