All Knowledge & Insights By Date

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced in a September 14, 2015, press release, "FTC Sends Warning Letters about Green Certification Seals," that it sent warning letters to five providers of environmental certification seals and 32 businesses using those seals, "alerting them to the agency's concerns that the seals could be considered deceptive and may not comply with the FTC's environmental marketing guidelines." FTC states that environmental certification seals are intended to help...

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 11, 2017, Michael S. Wenk, M.S., Senior Regulatory Consultant with The Acta Group (Acta®), presented “Chemical Substance Management in Central and South America: Insights into Sustainability, Regulatory and Management Opportunities” at the 17th AOCS Latin American Congress and Exhibition on Fats, Oils, and Lipids in Cancun, Mexico.  In general, Central and South America have no formal chemical inventories in place, no formal pre-notification schemes, and no...

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)...

A September 3, 2015, Inside EPA article regarding EPA’s efforts to improve how it reviews companies’ proposals to develop synthetic biology products, and specifically biotech algae, featured quotes from Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.: In a recent memo to clients, the law firm Bergeson & Campbell calls the announcement of the algae guide update "hugely important for the industrial biotechnology communities," adding that "EPA's announcement suggests a broader Agency...

CHINA Guidance On The Catalog Of Hazardous Chemicals Includes Mandatory GHS Classifications: On August 19, 2015, the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) released guidance on the Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals. The guidance includes mandatory Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) classifications for all 2,828 listed chemicals. It also provides instructions on how to determine if a mixture is...

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...

The July 31, 2015, Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report spoke with Lynn L. Bergeson regarding EPA’s plans to develop updated guidance for companies making chemicals with genetically engineered microorganisms under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). “EPA's posting of the synbio algae project is hugely important for the industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology communities,” Lynn  Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson  & Campbell P.C., told...

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...