Toxics use reduction

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Toxics use reduction is an approach to pollution prevention that targets and measures reductions in the upfront use of toxic materials. Toxics use reduction emphasizes the more preventive aspects of source reduction but, due to its emphasis on toxic chemical inputs, has been opposed more vigorously by chemical manufacturers.

In the United States, toxics use reduction programs were set up by some state legislatures during the early 1990s, e.g., Massachusetts, New Jersey and Oregon. Program elements may include mandatory reporting of toxic chemical use, reduction planning requirements, research and technical assistance. In the mid-1990s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considered toxics use reporting or materials accounting as an expansion of public right-to-know on toxic chemical use. ^[1] The agency issued an advanced notice of proposed rule making in 1996 ^[2], though toxics use reporting was not adopted.

In Europe, attention to toxics use reduction may be seen in the EU's new regulatory framework (adopted 2003) ^[3] for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH). ^[4]