Stimuler l’innovation : Comment des lois plus strictes appuient la commercialisation de produits chimiques plus sûrs

This executive summary by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that stricter regulations on hazardous chemicals stimulate innovation and the commercialization of safer alternatives. While noting the risk of 'regrettable substitution,' the document provides six policy recommendations to ensure that chemical innovation leads to a healthier market.

• Stricter laws on hazardous chemicals drive the invention and adoption of safer substitutes. CIEL's study indicates that international patent filings for alternatives to phthalates—chemicals with endocrine-disrupting properties—increased in correlation with the adoption of more restrictive laws. A similar pattern was observed with the global phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.
• Government intervention is necessary to help safer chemical alternatives enter the market by overcoming barriers such as the economies of scale enjoyed by existing toxic chemicals, the externalization of costs, and a general lack of information regarding available substances.
• There is a risk of 'regrettable substitution,' where a restricted hazardous chemical is replaced by another dangerous substance. The document cites examples of flame retardants and phthalate alternatives like DINCH, which were introduced with insufficient toxicological data despite structural similarities to the hazardous chemicals they replaced.
• CIEL proposes six policy recommendations to foster safer innovation: shifting the burden of proof of safety to manufacturers, phasing out chemicals based on intrinsic hazards, recognizing endocrine disruptors as a class to be eliminated globally, internalizing costs of hazardous substances, increasing access to safety and health data, and establishing stricter international laws to ensure global fair competition.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Stimuler l’innovation : Comment des lois plus strictes appuient la commercialisation de produits chimiques plus sûrs. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Innovation_Resume_Feb2013.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Stimuler l’innovation : Comment des lois plus strictes appuient la commercialisation de produits chimiques plus sûrs. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Innovation_Resume_Feb2013.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Stimuler l’innovation : Comment des lois plus strictes appuient la commercialisation de produits chimiques plus sûrs |url=https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Innovation_Resume_Feb2013.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndstimuler, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Stimuler l’innovation : Comment des lois plus strictes appuient la commercialisation de produits chimiques plus sûrs}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/Publications/Innovation_Resume_Feb2013.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }