April 9, 2010

Turkey Begins Consultation on Chemicals Inventory Deadline Extension

Companies located in European Union (EU) countries have expressed relief at news that they may have won more time to comply with a significant new chemicals control law adopted by the Turkish government. This memorandum explains why. Meeting of Interested Parties A delegation of EU chemicals manufacturers and exporters organized by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) visited the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF) in February to ask for more time to...
April 9, 2010

EPA Posts Fact Sheet on Determining If a Cleaning Product Is a Pesticide

In a March 2010 fact sheet, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes how to determine whether a cleaning product is a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Under FIFRA, pesticide products must be registered if they are considered to be intended for a pesticidal purpose. EPA states that products are considered to be for a pesticidal purpose "if the person who distributes or sells them claims, states or implies that they can or should be...
April 8, 2010

EPA Reassessing Authorizations for PCB Use and Distribution in Commerce

More than 30 years have passed since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its initial set of regulations on the use and distribution in commerce of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PCB items. Now with three decades of experience and information on PCBs and PCB items, EPA has decided to exercise its authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and reassess the regulations governing PCB use authorizations and distribution in commerce. On April 7, 2010, EPA issued an...
March 30, 2010

EPA Announces BPA Action Plan

On March 29, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its action plan on bisphenol A (BPA). In its press release, EPA states that the BPA action plan "focuses on the environmental impacts of BPA and will look to add BPA to EPA's list of chemicals of concern and require testing related to environmental effects." EPA notes that, in January 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had some concerns about the potential human health impacts of BPA, and...
March 26, 2010

Lynn L. Bergeson Participates in Public Forum about the Emerging Field of Nanotechnology

On April 3, 2010, the Lemelson Center for Study of Invention and Innovation, with support from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), will host a public forum about the emerging field of nanotechnology. Lynn L. Bergeson is among the panel of experts that will provide an introduction to nanotechnology. ...
March 25, 2010

Strategic Alliance with ENTRIX, Incorporated

Alliance Will Strengthen Acta’s and Acta EU’s Ability to Provide REACH and Related Chemical Management Services Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C), The Acta Group, L.L.C. (Acta), and The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU) are pleased to announce each has entered into a strategic alliance with ENTRIX, Incorporated (ENTRIX), one of the largest scientific environmental and...
March 19, 2010

EPA Planning to Release More Chemical Action Plans

On March 17, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is preparing action plans for nonylphenol/nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP/NPE), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), siloxanes, and diisocyanates. EPA is also preparing final action plans for the chemicals remaining on EPA's initial list -- bisphenol A and benzidine dyes. EPA chose the chemicals based on a range of criteria, including identification as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic; high production volume...
March 18, 2010

ECHA Board of Appeals Issues Guidance for Appealing ECHA Decisions

On March 10, 2010, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Board of Appeals (Board) issued a document, Practice Directions to Parties to Appeal Proceedings Before the Board of Appeal of the European Chemicals Agency (Practice Directions), to provide guidance on various aspects of the appeals proceedings, including communications with the Board, procedures for lodging a notice of appeal and other pleading documents, the rights of parties to confidentiality, and procedures for...
March 16, 2010

China MEP Adopts Amended New Chemical Notification Scheme

On December 30, 2009, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) adopted the newly amended new chemical notification scheme "Measures on Environmental Management of New Chemical Substances" (新化学物质环境管理办法), Order 7. The new program enters into force on October 15, 2010. This memorandum provides a general overview of this critically important new program. Background The new regulation is intended in part to align China with...
March 11, 2010

GAO Recommends FDA Strengthen Its Oversight of GRAS Food Ingredients

On March 5, 2010, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled Food Safety: FDA Should Strengthen Its Oversight of Food Ingredients Determined to Be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) exempts generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances, which include spices, artificial flavors, emulsifiers and binders, vitamins and minerals, and preservatives, from the general requirement that companies obtain Food...