About Precaution

San Francisco CA Precautionary Purchasing Law

In 2005, San Francisco enacted a law that requires the city to take public health and environmental stewardship into consideration when purchasing products. The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing for Commodities Ordinance requires city departments to buy products that do as little harm as possible to people and the Earth.
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Product Categories
This 2005 city Department of Environment draft memo lists all the targeted product categories that would be covered by the law.
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Product Comparison Draft Criteria
This 2005 city Department of Environment draft memo lists all the possible criteria to compare products, such as carcinogens and other human health criteria.
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Public Participation Guidelines
Regulations establishing detailed public participation guidelines for implementation of the Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance were approved in 2005.
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News Article

This June 2005 San Francisco Chronicle article describes the new law, noting “The potential reach of the ordinance is far, from jail uniforms to office carpeting, from street-cleaning suds to construction materials. The city makes about $600 million in purchases a year…”
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