Microplastics Regulation: EPA Declines to Act, California Moves Forward
EPA and California took opposite approaches to microplastics regulation within weeks of each other. On July 1, 2026, EPA proposed to omit microplastics from the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). Two weeks earlier on June 18, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) finalized a regulation adding microplastics to the state’s Safer Consumer […]
DTSC Releases Microplastics Background Document Ahead of December Workshop
This month, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released a public background document summarizing its research on products that contain or generate microplastics. DTSC is requesting comment on the specific product categories evaluated in the document through January 16, 2026. The department will also hold a virtual workshop to receive public input on December […]
California Proposes Listing Microplastics as an SCP Candidate Chemical
California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has proposed to designate microplastics as a “candidate chemical,” a move that could lead to future regulation of products that contain or generate microplastics under the state’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program. Adding microplastics to the SCP candidate chemical list would not in itself create new regulatory requirements. However, […]
DTSC Finalizes SCP Priority Product Work Plan
This October, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released the final version of the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program’s Three-Year Priority Product Work Plan for 2024–2026. The work plan identifies eight categories of consumer products that DTSC will evaluate to determine whether specific products within those categories should be designated as Priority Products—product-chemical combinations […]
Safer Consumer Products Schedules Public Hearing on its Proposal to List Paint or Varnish Strippers Containing Methylene Chloride as a Priority Product
A public hearing on California’s Safer Consumer Product’s third proposed Priority Product regulation will be held on January 8, 2018. The hearing will begin at 1:00 PM in the Sierra Hearing Room at the CalEPA Building, located at 1001 “I” Street, Sacramento, California, and remain open until 5:00 PM or until no attendees present testimony, […]
Draft Alternatives Analysis Guide released for California’s Safer Consumer Products program.
On Monday, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released a draft version of its Alternatives Analysis Guide, a document that will be critical to the implementation of the state’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program. Once finalized, the Guide will provide a framework and steps to help responsible entities (the manufacturers, importers, assemblers, and […]
First Priority Products listing proposed under CA’s Safer Consumer Products program.
Today, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced that the comment period is now open for the first Priority Product listing regulation under the state’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program. The proposed regulation would establish a Priority Products list containing one item: children’s foam-padded sleeping products containing tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) or tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). Both […]
California releases draft Alternatives Analysis guidance under Safer Consumer Products program.
Today, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released the first part of draft guidance on conducting Alternatives Analysis (AA) under the state’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program. The Draft Stage 1 Alternatives Analysis Guide (AA Guide) covers the first of the two stages of the AA process, which entails an initial screening of alternatives […]
California’s Safer Consumer Products program finalizes Priority Products Work Plan.
Last week, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released its final 2015-17 Priority Product Work Plan outlining the agency’s policy priorities and product categories to be evaluated over the next three years. The Work Plan implements the Safer Consumer Products program, the part of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative that serves to “accelerate the quest […]
Stakeholders respond to competing TSCA reform proposals.
Since the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s legislative hearing last week on modernizing the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), critiques, endorsements, and other reactions have continued to roll in from all corners of the TSCA reform universe. Yesterday, Chemical Watch reported that the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers and the Consumer Electronics Association […]