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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...
On March 9, 2010, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health held a hearing entitled "Business Perspectives on Reforming U.S. Chemical Safety Laws." Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee, convened the hearing with leaders of businesses that manufacture or use chemicals to examine their business perspectives on reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Only two other Senators participated in the...
Today the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a final rule narrowing the list of hazardous materials (hazmats) that require security plans when transported in commerce. 75 Fed. Reg. 10974. The rule is effective on October 1, 2010, although voluntary compliance is authorized as of April 8, 2010. The final rule also revises the regulations applicable to the content of and training...
March 9, 2010
ECHA Announces New Public Consultation on Eight Potential Substances of Very High Concern
Today the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposed to identify eight chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHC) and possible candidates for authorization under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The detailed proposals are available on the ECHA website online. Comments are due April 22, 2010. Potential Additions to the SVHC Listing Denmark, France, and Germany proposed identifying eight...
The March 3, 2010, issue of InsideEPA.com's Toxics Regulation News quotes Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.'s February 22, 2010, memorandum regarding the effects of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed amendments to the enforceable consent agreement procedures under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act. ...
The March 4, 2010, issue of BNA Daily Environment Report quotes Jim Aidala, who participated in the American Bar Association's March 3, 2010, teleconference on endocrine disruptors. ...
On March 4, 2010, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled "TSCA and Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals: Examining Domestic and International Actions." The Subcommittee held the hearing to examine U.S. and international efforts to protect public health and the environment from persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals, how the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is currently being used...
March 3, 2010
Health Canada Adopts Interim Policy Statement on Health Canada’s Working Definition for Nanomaterials
On March 1, 2010, Health Canada began a public consultation on its adoption of the Interim Policy Statement on Health Canada's Working Definition for Nanomaterials (Interim Policy). Although Health Canada is accepting comments, it states that the Interim Policy "is effective immediately." In preparing the Interim Policy, Health Canada states that it sought the informal feedback of some international stakeholders, industry trade groups, standards associations, and other...
On February 25, 2010, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled "Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Drinking Water: Risks to Human Health and the Environment." The Subcommittee intended the hearing to examine the science and regulation of endocrine disruptors that may be found in sources of drinking water. Witnesses included: Jim Jones, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S....
February 26, 2010
Lynn L. Bergeson Will Speak at Conference Concerning Environmental Regulation and Commercial Implications
We are pleased to announce that Lynn L. Bergeson will be speaking at the upcoming conference entitled “Environmental Regulation and Commercial Implications 2010: How the New Administration, Congress and the Courts Have Changed the Rules.” The conference will be held in New York City on May 7, 2010, and in San Francisco on May 18, 2010. The conference will be broadcast live on the Internet on May 7,...