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PA EPA RELEASES REPORT ON FINDINGS OF CONS. LABELING INITIAT.

Release Date: 02/18/97
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PA EPA RELEASES REPORT ON FINDINGS OF CONS. LABELING INITIAT.

FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1997

EPA RELEASES REPORT ON FINDINGS OF CONSUMER LABELING INITIATIVE

EPA is releasing an initial report on its Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI), a cooperative effort between EPA and a wide range of stakeholders, launched in March 21, 1996 by Administrator Carol M. Browner, to examine and improve the information contained on the labels of home and garden pesticide and hard-surface cleaning products. The CLI aims to foster better public health protection and pollution prevention, empower consumer choice and improve consumer understanding of safe use and environmental and health information on household consumer product labels. The report discusses: the results of preliminary qualitative research designed to evaluate consumer understanding and use of product labels; a summary of an extensive literature review of product labeling issues; and a review of comments received by EPA from consumers, industry and health and safety professionals on the objectives of the CLI. Key findings in the report address the difficulties consumers have in reading and understanding the environmental, health and safety use information contained on product labels. The report also outlines recommendations for the second phase of the CLI to take place during 1997 and 1998. The recommendations focus on the need to conduct subsequent quantitative and additional literature review on labeling issues; interim measures to improve the content of existing product labels; and educational programs encouraging consumers to use labeling information. The report also highlights the unique structure of the CLI, which is a voluntary EPA initiative in partnership with a federal and state agency task force and consumer and environmental groups, consumer product manufacturers and other interested parties. The CLI report is available on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/opptintr/labeling/phase1. Reporters can call 202- 260-4376 for hard copies. Others can obtain hard copies from either of two sources: 1) Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse (for a single hard copy at no cost call 202-260-1023, leave voicemail to request by title; or fax request to 202-260-0178; or e-mail request to [email protected]. The EPA ID# is EPA-700-R-96-001.) 2) National Technical Information Service (for multiple copies call 703-487-4650. The PB number for ordering copies through NTIS is PB97-117774. There is a charge for NTIS orders).

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