It is the policy  of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the risks to infants and children consistently and explicitly as a part of risk assessments generated during its decision making process, including the setting of standards to protect public health and the environment. To the degree permitted by available data in each case, the Agency will develop a separate assessment of risks to infants and children or state clearly why this is not done - for example, a demonstration that infants and children are not expected to be exposed to the stressor under examination.