AUSTRALIA Australia Publishes Twelfth Tranche Of IMAP Assessments: The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) published for public comment the twelfth tranche of human health and environmental assessments for chemicals identified as part of the Stage One implementation of the Inventory Multi-tiered Assessment and Prioritization (IMAP) Framework. NICNAS states that it seeks comments on information that...
On February 9, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published the "Enforcement Guidance for the Hazard Communication Standard's (HCS) June 1, 2015 Effective Date" (Guidance). The Guidance offers important insights into OSHA's HCS enforcement strategy and is a must read for stakeholders. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., The Acta Group, and 3E Company, a Verisk Analytics business, will present a complimentary...
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced on February 26, 2015, a revision to the process for evaluation of the potential for a pesticide to move off-site into surface water when the pesticide is used in an urban area. The former evaluation method followed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approach with California specific parameters. This revision will continue to use the EPA approach but allow incorporation of a module specific for California urban...
February 26, 2015
Border Security: EPA’s Increased FIFRA Import Enforcement Initiative
March 12, 20152:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (EDT) This webinar has occurred. For copies of presentation materials contact chad.howlin@lawbc.com. Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to host a complimentary webinar on recent compliance and enforcement issues regarding the importation of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2014 revisions to its Notice of Arrival...
On February 11, 2015, the Government of Canada published in Gazette II (Vol. 149, no. 3) the final regulation for adopting the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The final Hazardous Product Regulation (HPR) appears to be nearly identical to the proposed regulation published in Gazette I in August of 2014 (Vol. 148, no. 32) and is closely aligned with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health...
The Acta Group (Acta®), a global scientific and business consulting firm offering a full range of support services for the process of obtaining approvals to market industrial chemicals, biocides, and chemical products with offices in Washington, D.C., Beijing, China, and Manchester, UK, has been named to the shortlist of candidates for two Chemicals Northwest 2015 Awards: "Chemical Services Provider Award," and "Business Improvement Partner Award." The Chemicals Northwest Awards are...
February 5, 2015
FTC: Warning Letters to Manufacturers of Dog Waste Bags Suggest They May Be in Deep Doo-Doo
For the dog lovers of the world, this one is for you. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently sent "warning letters" to 20 manufacturers and marketers of dog waste bags that dog owners, walkers, and conscientious others use to pick up after their pets and then discard. FTC expresses in the letters concern with the environmental claims for "biodegradable" or "compostable" that FTC alleges fail to conform with the updated Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (Green...
February 5, 2015
Lynn L. Bergeson Offers Comments to Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report on Reduced EPA FY2016 Budget Request
A February 4, 2015 story, “More Final Risk Assessments Planned Despite Reduced FY16 EPA Budget Request,” in Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report on the Congressional Justification released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on February 2, 2015 addressing the EPA FY2016 budget, reported that EPA intends to publish more chemical risk assessments in fiscal year 2016 than it anticipates issuing in fiscal 2015, that the agency says it can achieve its goal...
February 5, 2015
James V. Aidala Offers Outlook for Annual Budget “Ballet” in Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report
Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report sought insight from James V. Aidala for the February 4, 2015 story "EPA Proposal to Increase New Chemical Fees Has Been Tried Before, and Failed." Jim Aidala, a senior government consultant with Bergeson & Campbell P.C. [and Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs with The Acta Group], told Bloomberg BNA that the proposal to increase the premanufacturing notices fee is a routine request included in Executive Office budget...
On January 12, 2015, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) proposed important new regulations that would repeal and replace the existing Article 6 regulations regarding the all-important "clear and reasonable warnings" requirements under Proposition 65 (Proposed Rule). OEHHA previously released a Pre-Regulatory Proposal for a potential draft regulation amending Proposition 65 (Prop 65) regulations with some sweeping and controversial proposed changes, including, for...