"T" comme Toxique ?

The document outlines seven reasons why the Transatlantic Investment and Partnership Agreement (TTIP/TAFTA) could undermine EU chemical safety regulations, potentially leading to a 'race to the bottom' in environmental and health standards. It warns that the agreement could hinder the adoption of stricter national laws, limit access to information on hazardous substances, and allow foreign investors to sue governments over public health regulations through secret arbitration panels, similar to mechanisms used in NAFTA.

• The TAFTA is characterized as a regulatory agreement designed to minimize differences between global regions, which the author claims could lead to a 'harmonisation « par le bas »' (downward harmonization) toward standards that are less protective of people and the environment.
• The agreement may impede the European Union's ability to implement existing and future environmental legislation, potentially importing the 'regulatory paralysis' seen in the United States where some single-chemical risk assessments have taken over twenty years.
• There is a risk that TAFTA would prevent EU member states from adopting stricter national measures on pesticides and chemicals, citing the French ban on bisphenol A in food packaging as an example of the type of measure that could be blocked.
• The document warns that TAFTA could include dispute settlement mechanisms similar to those in NAFTA, allowing foreign investors to seek compensation from taxpayers via secret arbitration panels if EU chemical laws impact their profits.
• The agreement could facilitate the expansion of shale gas exploitation through hydraulic fracturing by allowing US companies to challenge moratoria on the practice, as has occurred in a Canadian province.
• TAFTA may undermine international diplomatic efforts by the EU to promote precautionary chemical policies among Asian trading partners and within international treaties.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). "T" comme Toxique ? https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Francais_Feb2014.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. "T" comme Toxique ? n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Francais_Feb2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title="T" comme Toxique ? |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Francais_Feb2014.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndcomme, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{"T" comme Toxique ?}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Francais_Feb2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }