The European Union is poised to pass a policy on the use of chemicals based on the precautionary principle — namely that companies must prove beyond any doubt that their products are safe before they can be marketed.  While such a policy may make superficial sense, Angela Logomasini of CEI thinks otherwise: “Because manufacturers can’t prove anything to be 100 percent safe, this EU policy will likely produce arbitrary bans on many relatively safe chemicals and discourage innovation.  This is unfortunate, because chemicals play a crucial role in human progress, making possible such things as pharmaceuticals, safe drinking water, and pest control.  If passed, the chemical policy will jeopardize that progress and advance human suffering.”