United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Pollution Prevention and Toxics
(7409)
EPA 742-F-98-022
December
vvEPA
We all use common
household chemical
products every day —
What we do with them
is our responsibility. It is
up to us to choose the
right ones for our
needs, store them
properly, use them
safely, and dispose of
them with the smallest-
possible effect on the
environment.
Goals of the CLI
FACT SHEET
Consumer Labeling
Initiative
of
Objectives of CLI:
* Learn how to make important
safe use, health, and
environmental information on
household product labels
easier to find, read,
understand, and use.
4 Conduct research directly
with consumers to learn how
to provide consumers with
clear information they want
and need on product labels.
*• Help consumers to make well-
informed choices among
products—based on their own
needs and values—and to use
and dispose of products safely.
4 Encourage consumers to
"Read the Label First!"
CL1 Background:
The Environmental Protection
Agency announced the
Consumer Labeling Initiative
(CLI) in the Federal Register (61
FR 12011) on March 22, 1996.
The goal of the CLI is to foster
pollution prevention, empower
consumer choice, and improve
consumer understanding of safe
use, environmental, and personal
health information on household
consumer product labels. The
CLI is a voluntary, cooperative
partnership effort among federal,
state, and local government
agencies, industry, and other
interested groups.
CLI Research
Process:
The first phase of the CLI
Project, which ended on
September 30, 1996, had three
components: qualitative
consumer research, a literature
review of relevant publications,
and a review of extensive
comments solicited through the
Federal Register notice. The
qualitative component of the
research plan included 135 in-
depth one-on-one interviews with
users of products in each of
three product categories —
indoor insecticides, outdoor
pesticides, and household hard
surface cleaners — in five major
cities across the United States.
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CLI Projects
Underway:
/ Preparation of CLI Phase
II Report
/ Launch of "Read the
Label First!" consumer
education campaign
/ Resolution of policy
Issues
/ Implemention of labeling
changes recommended
In Phase II
Selected CLI
Accomplishments
to Date:
/ Survey completion
/ Publication of CLI Phase I
Report
S Voluntary implementation
of labeling changes
based on Interim Label
Recommendations from
Phase I (September
1997)
The results of the Phase I
research were presented in the
CLI Phase I Report, published
September 1996 (#EPA-700-R-
96-001).
In Phase II of the CLI, which
began in 1997, the Agency's
industry and trade association
partners undertook a nationwide,
statistically valid quantitative
survey designed in cooperation
with all of the CLI project
participants. The survey,
conducted in April through June
1998, tested the learnings from
Phase I, explored alternatives to
existing label language, and
established a baseline of current
consumer behavior with
reactions to labels. The Agency
commissioned further qualitative
research with consumers to test
possible label format and
language changes. Also in
Phase II, the Agency and its
partners explored other policy
issues not easily addressed by
consumer research, including
how to provide consistent
storage and disposal information
that will be flexible enough to
take local recycling and waste
management programs into
account.
All the CLI participants will be
launching a joint nationwide
"Read the Label First!"
campaign to encourage
consumers to focus on the
information on the labels of these
products. The goal of this
campaign is to help consumers
purchase, use, and dispose of
products more safely and
effect! vely.
The Phase II activities will be
summarized in the CLI Phase II
Report, expected to be published
during the winter of 1998-1999.
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