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On February 27, 2014, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, released a much anticipated discussion draft that would update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to Shimkus' press release, the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA) "keys off" S. 1009, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA), which was introduced on May 22, 2013, by the late Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator David Vitter...

CANADA Canada Begins Consultation On Potential Amendments To The E2 Regulations: On March 10, 2014, Canada began a public consultation on potential amendments to the Environmental Emergency (E2) regulations. Canada states that the amendments are intended "to better protect Canadians and their environment from environmental emergencies, and to provide the regulated community with clarity on existing regulatory requirements." Canada lists the...

The Acta Group's (Acta) Andrew R. Bourne and Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.'s (B&C®) Lisa R. Burchi and Lara A. Hall, M.S., RQAP-GLP, have published an article entitled "EU Biocidal Products Regulation and Its Impact on Industry: A Practical Briefing" in the February 27, 2014, issue of Bloomberg BNA's Daily Environment Reporter. The article was written to help industry, especially those companies exporting to the EU, understand the differences between BPR and regulation in...

James V. Aidala was quoted in an Agrow Daily News Alert story titled “US EPA Rolls Out Farmworker Protection Plan” covering EPA’s has proposed changes to regulations intended to protect the nation's more than 2 million farmworkers and their families from pesticide exposures. “A former EPA pesticide official says that he expects agricultural groups to balk at the record keeping requirements and believes that they will echo CLA's concern about the Agency's justification...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta) are pleased to announce the addition of Karin F. Baron to our firms. Ms. Baron is an expert regulatory consultant with more than 15 years of experience in developing, implementing, and managing complex chemical regulatory compliance matters for some of the largest industrial and specialty chemical companies in the world, including International Specialty Products, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, and most recently 3E. Her primary areas...

The European Commission (EC) recently published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 88/2014, specifying a procedure for the addition of new active substances to Annex I to the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) No. 528/2012. BPR Annex I lists active substances that are considered "low concern." Biocidal products utilizing only these active substances are eligible for the simplified authorization procedure in accordance with BPR Article 25. Active substances placed on BPR Annex I are subject...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. was quoted in an Inside EPA article regarding EPA's recently released draft pesticide spray drift policy: “Released last February, the draft assessment said buffer zones ranging from 0 to greater than 4,000 feet could be necessary to reduce children's and other bystanders' exposure. The calculations are based on field size, crop-dependent application rates, and a risk-based 'concentration of concern' the agency sets using the health endpoint...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated on February 5, 2014, a final rule revising and updating the regulations governing the procedures for the satisfaction of data requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Given the importance of data compensation rights, and the fact EPA has not weighed-in on this matter for over three decades, the rule is an important must read for pesticide stakeholders. The final rule addresses procedures for the...

The 5th Annual Bio-Based and Renewable Chemicals Summit is underway and throughout the proceedings attendees have heard one message loud and clear: renewables are here, they are growing, and the time for addressing the critical path to commercialization is now. Kathleen M. Roberts, Executive Director of the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG™), served as Summit Chair. She moderated a spirited session featuring Benjamin M. Borns, Technical Expert in Application of Bio-Based...

On February 4, 2014, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held a hearing entitled "Testing of Chemicals and Reporting and Retention of Information under TSCA Sections 4 and 8." This was the fifth hearing on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) convened by the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee held oversight hearings on June 13, 2013, July 11, 2013, September 18, 2013, and November 13, 2013, that reviewed several core sections of Title I of TSCA and proposed...