Mexico proposes overarching chemicals law with burden of proof on industry

Mexico's health authority has proposed an overarching national chemicals policy that would place the burden of proof on companies to show substances they import or use in the country are safe, and would allow the government to restrict or ban those that pose an "unacceptable risk". The policy proposes a general law for the Comprehensive Management of Chemical Substances, which would establish an inventory of all chemicals used in the country and require producers or importers to "provide sufficient information based on the risk assessment evidence to ensure adequate risk management ... along the supply chain".  Producers or importers would have two years to provide a registration dossier containing: general data, physical properties, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties, as well as all uses of the substance; a ‘chemical safety assessment’ that characterises risks for and potential exposure to the environment and human health, conditions of safe use, and communication of these conditions to all potential users.