Cancer Council Australia, unions and public health advocates have expressed alarm over proposed federal government changes to industrial chemical regulations.
The changes mean more than 99% of new industrial chemicals will not be officially assessed for threats to public health and the environment before being introduced to the public.
Under a bill introduced by Assistant Health Minister David Gillespie, industry would self-assess whether a chemical new to Australia was low-risk and therefore "exempt", meaning it could be brought to market without being reported to the regulator or having its safety assessed.
Under the proposed regime just 0.75% of new chemicals would be assessed before they are used by industry.
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