Decisions, Science, and Values: Crafting Regulatory Alternatives Analysis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science and Policy
• Chemical Risk Assessment
• Public Health

Background:

• Emerging prevention-based chemical regulations aim to reduce toxic chemical use by promoting safer alternatives.
• Jurisdictions like California, Maine, and the EU (REACH) are implementing programs requiring manufacturers to assess alternatives.
• Effective implementation necessitates a robust methodology for comparing chemicals and their alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce regulatory alternatives analysis (RAA) as a key methodology for prevention-based chemical regulation.
• To propose design principles for RAA that integrate private sector product design practices with public values.
• To evaluate RAA methods against both industry standards and public concerns like equity and accountability.

Main Methods:

• Conceptualizing RAA as an extension of product design tools used in private industry.
• Incorporating public health and environmental objectives into the RAA framework.
• Developing and illustrating an integrated set of design principles for conducting RAA.

Main Results:

• RAA serves as a critical tool for evaluating chemicals and their safer alternatives.
• An effective RAA methodology must balance private industry design considerations with public values.
• The proposed design principles provide a framework for evaluating and implementing RAA.

Conclusions:

• Prevention-based chemical regulation relies on effective RAA to identify and adopt safer alternatives.
• RAA must be designed to reflect both private sector needs and public values such as legitimacy and equity.
• This article provides a foundational perspective for developing and assessing RAA methodologies.