CIEL Report Claims Regulation Stimulates Chemical Innovation
Chemical Regulation/Innovation: Earlier this month, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) released its report, Driving Innovation: How stronger laws help bring safer chemicals to market. In the report, CIEL offers research showing that stronger laws foster innovation by large and small companies alike. Among other things,CIEL cites the number of patents for alternative chemicals filed every […]
EU Commission Releases Roadmap on Substances of Very High Concern
EU REACH Substances of Very High Concern: Last week, the EU Commission released its Roadmap on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). The Roadmap outlines a process for identifying and assessing potential SVHCs within the following categories: substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMRs); substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative or toxic for […]
DTSC Requests Public Comment on Another Draft of the Green Chemistry Regulations
California Green Chemistry Regulations: The saga of California’s nascent Green Chemistry program continues. Last week, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released the revised text (PDF) of its proposed Safer Consumer Product Regulations. The comment period for the revisions started on January 29 and closes on February 28, 2013. Notably, the revised rules significantly […]
EPA Announces FIFRA/TSCA Settlements with Finland-Based Kemira Group
TSCA/FIFRA Enforcement: EPA continues to steadily increase its enforcement of U.S. chemical control laws. Last Thursday, the EPA announced settlements with two subsidiaries of the Finland-based Kemira Group to resolve alleged violations of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Kemira Chemicals agreed to pay a civil penalty of […]
International Negotiations on Mercury Treaty
UN/Mercury: International negotiators in Geneva for the fifth and final Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (“INC 5”) hope to complete a mercury reduction treaty by the end of this week, although officials warn that difficult issues remain to be resolved. Delegates from over 130 countries are expected to establish the first international legal instrument with enforceable limits […]
EPA Removes 16 Chemicals from HPV 'Orphan' List
TSCA: On December 19, 2012, the Interagency Testing Committee (ITC) recommended to EPA that 16 High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program orphan chemicals be removed from the TSCA Section 4(e) Priority Testing List. (Federal Register notice available here.) The chemicals are listed below. The ITC determined that appropriate actions have been taken to evaluate the hazardous potential […]
EPA Releases First Set of Draft Risk Assessments Under Existing Chemicals Work Plan Effort
On January 4, EPA released for public comment draft risk assessments, for particular uses, on five chemicals found in common household products. The draft risk assessments were developed as part of the agency’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan, which identified common chemicals for review over the coming years to assess any impacts on people’s health […]
EPA Announces Proposed Revisions to FIFRA Minimum Risk Exemption
FIFRA: In a December 31, 2012 Federal Register notice, (77 Fed. Reg. 76,979) EPA announced a new proposed rule that would revise the labeling requirements for minimum risk pesticide products. The proposed rule affects section 25(b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”) by changing how minimum risk pesticides are identified on product […]
DTSC Reopens Comment Period on Green Chemistry Regulations
California Green Chemistry: On December 20, DTSC delivered everyone an early Christmas present. The agency announced that it was re-opening the docket to accept public comments on yet another revised version of the Safer Consumer Product Alternative (SCPA) Regulations. The agency’s announcement is embedded below. Merry Christmas – better scratch those holiday plans and get […]
EPA Withdraws Immediate Final TSCA 8(d) Rule for Cadmium
TSCA: On Friday, December 14, Wendy Cleland-Hamnett, Director of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to withdraw the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 8(d) immediate final rule published on December 3, 2012. In its announcment the agency said: “Based on several letters asking questions and […]