The European Parliament passed historic legislation in December that requires companies to prove that the chemicals they use in everyday products are safe. The new measures follow the Precautionary Principle by putting the burden of proof on industry rather than the public.

Passage of this legislation, called REACH, will require the registration of 30,000 chemicals over the next 11 years and extensive testing of chemicals including those suspected of causing cancer and other health problems. REACH also will encourage the use and innovation of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals.

For the full scoop, see the BBC News story here.