Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials recently
announced that they are considering expanding a voluntary program
under which EPA reviews and certifies "safer" household
products to also cover personal care products primarily regulated
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The "Safer Choice" program presently covers a wide
range of products, including glass cleaners, general purpose
cleaners, washroom cleaners, carpet cleaners, laundry detergents,
graffiti removers, boat and car care, drain cleaners, and floor
care and other industrial products.
Background
The Safer Choice program dates back to the 1990s, when the
EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) program was launched. It
began as an initiative to help companies better consider human
health, environmental and economic effects of chemicals and
technologies, and product performance when designing and
manufacturing their products. In the mid-2000s, EPA developed a
product certification program
