STATEMENT OF CARROLL MUFFETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (CIEL) IN RESPONSE TO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD

CIEL argues that TTIP would allow the chemical industry to weaken safety regulations and limit access to critical health and safety data. The statement highlights the divergence between the U.S. risk-based approach and the EU's hazard-based REACH system, asserting that regulatory harmonization would likely result in lower standards. CIEL also warns that Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms would enable corporations to bypass domestic courts and challenge public interest laws, creating a 'regulatory chilling effect'.

• Industry proposals under TTIP regarding confidential business information (CBI) would restrict access to health and safety data, hindering the development of safer chemical alternatives and potentially leading to 'regrettable substitution'.
• There is a significant gap between U.S. and EU chemical safety standards because the U.S. uses a risk-based approach while the EU employs a hazard-based approach, the latter of which enables a systematic transition away from carcinogens and mutagens.
• Contrary to industry claims of high compliance costs, the EU's REACH regulation has not negatively impacted the GDP of France and Germany, and the EU chemical industry remains the world's largest exporter.
• Stricter regulation of hazardous chemicals can drive innovation by creating incentives for the invention and adoption of safer alternatives, as evidenced by patent filings for phthalate-alternatives.
• TTIP could create a 'chilling effect' on the development of public interest regulations in other regions, including BRICS countries, by establishing a global regulatory template that favors lower protection levels.
• Regulatory harmonization and mutual recognition under TTIP would likely lower safety standards for American consumers and delay the implementation of new regulations addressing emerging threats like endocrine disruptors and nanomaterials.
• The proposed 'Regulatory Cooperation Council' (RCC) under TTIP would diminish regulatory sovereignty by subjecting state and federal lawmaking processes to trade-impact assessments and bilateral consultations.
• The U.S. trade advisory system is heavily skewed toward corporate interests, with approximately 85% of committee members representing individual corporations or industry associations.
• Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms allow foreign corporations to bypass domestic courts and sue governments for lost expected future profits, which can lead to the dilution of public health and environmental laws.
• ISDS creates a financial burden on taxpayers, with each case costing American taxpayers an average of $8 million, regardless of whether the claim is meritless.

APA

Muffett, C. (2014). STATEMENT OF CARROLL MUFFETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (CIEL) IN RESPONSE TO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_Responses_May2014.pdf

Chicago

Muffett, Carroll. STATEMENT OF CARROLL MUFFETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (CIEL) IN RESPONSE TO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD. Center for International Environmental Law, 2014. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_Responses_May2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Muffett |first1=Carroll |title=STATEMENT OF CARROLL MUFFETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (CIEL) IN RESPONSE TO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=6 May 2014 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_Responses_May2014.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{muffett2014statement, author = {Muffett, Carroll}, title = {{STATEMENT OF CARROLL MUFFETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (CIEL) IN RESPONSE TO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2014}, month = may, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_Responses_May2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }