June 21, 2016. We’re not convinced that strategies to encourage the private sector to solve this problem make sense, because there is an inherent conflict between a company’s investment to develop new antibiotics for targeted populations and the public health need to prevent wide-spread use of those drugs. And patent extensions and other financial incentives will always mean that the American taxpayer will be footing the bill anyway. We agree with Rep. Jan Schakowsky that this is an issue where the government needs to step in. In our view, it is time for the NIH to invest in this work instead, and thereby put limits on off label promotions that lead to overuse.
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NCHR Statement on U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Priorities for Fiscal Year 2017 and 2018
June 15, 2016. We urge the CPSC to prioritize the research and rulemaking to limit exposure of consumers, and especially children, from the phthalates and flame retardants that have been found to have negatively impact health and development.
Read More »NCHR Testimony to FDA in Preparation for the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation Meeting
June 15, 2016. We are concerned about the presence of endocrine disrupting chemical in cosmetics, and their effect on consumers’ health. This issue is not new for the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR). It was discussed in 2012 and 2013. It appears that the ICCR asked the cosmetics industry for additional information, but it is unclear whether that information was provided and discussed since 2013.
Read More »Letter to WHO Urging the Postponement or Movement of Brazil Olympics due to Concerns over Zika
May 27, 2016. We are writing to express our concern about the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. WHO’s declaration of Zika as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” coupled with new scientific findings that underscore the seriousness of that problem, call for the Rio 2016 Games to be postponed and/or moved to another location—but not cancelled—in the name of public health.
Read More »NCHR Strongly Supports OCR’s Efforts to End Sexual Violence in Schools
June 8, 2016. We strongly support the efforts of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to end sexual violence and harassment in schools.
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