The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) has asked the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) to provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with relevant chemical data. The SPP is a partnership between the United States, Canada and Mexico to create an alliance for managing chemicals used in products marketed in all three countries. The partnership also allows the country to share information.
Canada evaluated 23,000 chemicals in 2006 and named 4,000 that incite further safety review. Of those 4,000, the SDA finds that 1,000-2,000 will require further action. The SDA is working with the US Consumer Specialty Products Association and the Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association.
Some expect that the coordinated approach to chemical risk assessment will make both regulation and trade easier in North America.