Mexico's industry body working on alternative chemicals management proposal

Mexico's chemicals industry body is developing an alternative chemicals management proposal to the one presented by the country’s health authority, in collaboration with international trade associations. In a 4 May notice, Aniq said it is seeking a regime that would allow its members to trade internationally and avoid "commercial barriers". Mexico's General Health Council (CSG) proposed an overarching national chemicals policy late last year that would place the burden of proof on companies to show substances they import or use in the country are safe, and allow the government to restrict or ban those that pose an "unacceptable risk" (see box). But the proposal generated "a certain degree of curiosity and concern" among industry organisations, Aniq’s notice said. It did not respond to Chemical Watch’s request to expand on these concerns, but the trade association has previously highlighted the proposal's divergence from the agreement made in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to align chemical risk management measures across the North America region.