Memoranda

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on September 17, 2015, a signed final significant new use rule (SNUR) for hexabromocyclododecane or 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). Under the final rule, persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process HBCD for use in consumer textiles (other than for use in motor vehicles) must notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. EPA notes that in this SNUR, the exemption for persons importing or...

On September 2, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), in accordance with guidelines developed by ATSDR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), issued a proposed Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls for review and comment that included updated toxicological profiles for 13 perfluorinated chemicals, including two well-studied perfluorinated chemicals, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the August 25, 2015, Federal Register announcing a public meeting on September 30, 2015, to receive public input and comments on EPA's data needs to support risk assessments of biotechnology products subject to oversight under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that make use of genetically engineered algae and cyanobacteria. The notice states that the...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted a document concerning its development of a project intended to support public dialog concerning the development and use of biotechnology.  EPA has oversight responsibility for the production and use of intergeneric cyanobacteria, eukaryotic microalgae, and their products by application of genetic engineering approaches.  EPA’s recently posted document, US Environmental Protection Agency Biotechnology Algae...

On July 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued OSHA Directive Number CPL 02-02-079. The Directive is intended to establish "policies and procedures to ensure uniform enforcement of the Hazard Communication standard" (HCS 2012). The Directive repeals previous instructions CPL 02-02-038 and CPL 02-02-039. It also cancels both enforcement memorandums effective February 9, 2015, and May 29, 2015, respectively. For more...

The release of the first Tier 1 assessments in the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 30, 2015, is a significant benchmark in the program since the original List 1 test orders were initially issued in October 2009. Fifteen of the original 67 List 1 chemicals were subsequently cancelled or discontinued by the respective pesticide registrants. The intended purpose of the Tier 1 screening was to identify potential...

On June 23, 2015, the House passed the TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2576) by a vote of 398-1. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce issued a press release on June 22, 2015, noting that the bill "would bring much-needed reform to the decades-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and is a true bipartisan breakthrough for the committee." According to the press release, support "has poured in for this bill as it works to improve the protection of human health and...

With little fanfare or advanced notice to the general public, on July 2, 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Council on Environmental Quality issued a memorandum directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of...

After over a year of review and revision, on June 25, 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection Solid Waste and Chemical Management Center (MEP-SCC) published the "Guidance for New Chemical Substance Notification and Registration (Draft)" (Guidance) for public comment. The deadline to submit comments to MEP-SCC regarding the Guidance is July 31, 2015. Comments should be submitted to MEP-SCC via e-mail (guidance@mepscc.cn). In addition, MEP-SCC will hold a...

On June 11, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a meeting on its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) proposed rule concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when manufactured or processed at the nanoscale. Jeff Morris, Deputy Director for Programs, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), and Jim Alwood, OPPT Chemical Control Division, provided further insight into EPA's goals, directives, and...