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Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (US)
The Delaney Clause is a provision in the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that prohibits the approval of any food additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals. It established a zero-tolerance policy for carcinogenic substances in processed foods, reflecting the precautionary principle in food safety regulation. -
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act is a comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. It authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment. The act has significantly reduced air pollution and improved air quality in the United States. -
Clean Water Act (US)
The Clean Water Act aims to restore and maintain the integrity of U.S. waters by regulating the discharge of pollutants into surface waters such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands. It establishes the basic structure for setting water quality standards and regulating point source pollution, significantly improving water quality across the nation. -
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
CITES is an international agreement among governments that aims to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It provides varying levels of protection to more than 37,000 species of animals and plants. -
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
The ESA provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, and the ecosystems upon which they depend. It is one of the strongest environmental laws in the United States, offering protections against harm, harassment, or habitat destruction. -
Safe Drinking Water Act (US)
The Safe Drinking Water Act protects the quality of drinking water in the U.S. by authorizing the EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water contaminants. It ensures that public water systems comply with safety standards to protect public health, covering both naturally occurring and man-made contaminants. -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US)
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) gives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authority to control hazardous waste from its creation to disposal. The act promotes waste minimization and resource conservation, setting a framework for managing non-hazardous and hazardous solid waste to protect human health and the environment. -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)/ Superfund
CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund, was created to address the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and respond to environmental emergencies involving toxic substances. It authorizes the federal government to identify parties responsible for contamination and compel them to clean up the sites or reimburse the government for cleanup costs. -
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is widely regarded as one of the most successful environmental agreements, leading to the recovery of the ozone layer and demonstrating global cooperation in addressing environmental threats. -
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that commits industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and human-made CO₂ emissions are a major cause. The treaty laid the groundwork for future climate agreements such as the Paris Accord.