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The Agriculture and Food Section (AFS) is pleased to be leading two sessions at IBA 2026, the International Bar Association’s (IBA) annual conference in Copenhagen, October 4-9, 2026. AFS will present Barriers on the plate: the impact of trade restrictions on global food security on Tuesday, October 6 (9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. CEST) and Foreign investment restrictions on controlling agricultural land on Wednesday, October 7 (4:15 p.m. – 5:30...
On 6 August 2026, the United Kingdom (UK) government extended the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) transitional deadlines for any company manufacturing or importing chemicals into Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). Grandfathered substances now have one of the following deadlines depending upon the hazardous properties and tonnage band. 27 October 2029: Substances that are manufactured or imported at or above 1,000 metric...
August 18, 2026
EPA Releases Draft TSCA Risk Evaluations for oDCB and pDCB, “Two Chemicals Found in Household and Commercial Products”
On August 10, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of and requested public comment on the draft risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for o-dichlorobenzene (oDCB) and p-dichlorobenzene (pDCB). 91 Fed. Reg. 51488. EPA notes that the purpose of TSCA risk evaluations is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use (COU),...
August 11, 2026
EPA Releases Draft Exposure Assessments for trans‑1,2‑Dichloroethylene and 1,2‑Dichloropropane
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on July 31, 2026, that it is advancing its review of trans‑1,2‑dichloroethylene and 1,2‑dichloropropane under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) “by releasing draft technical support documents that explain how the agency estimates exposure to these common solvents.” According to EPA, “[e]valuating potential risks from these solvents is important because they are widely used in industry and may be present in...
August 10, 2026
Commerce Publishes Temporary Final Rule Restricting Export of “Black Mass” From Shredded Battery Scrap
The U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published on August 6, 2026, a temporary final rule (the Rule) titled “DPAS Directive Allocation Order and Additional Requirements for Recoverable Critical Minerals and Materials” to restrict the exportation of black mass and tungsten waste and scrap. According to BIS, “this temporary rule is necessary to immediately secure the supply of certain recoverable [critical minerals and materials] CMMs to ensure an adequate...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule on July 28, 2026, extending certain compliance dates applicable to certain entities subject to the risk management rules for perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 91 Fed. Reg. 47145. EPA states that it is extending certain Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) compliance dates for non-federal owners and operators to match the existing compliance dates for...
July 21, 2026
Updated MOU between USDA, HHS, and EPA Addresses Drug Residues, Pesticide Residues, and Chemical Contaminants in Food
On July 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Signatory Agencies) announced an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to “reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting consumers from heavy metals and other contaminants in food.” USDA’s July 10, 2026, press release notes that for decades, USDA, HHS, and EPA have coordinated through the National Residue Program to...
July 17, 2026
New Mexico Posts Guidance and FAQs for Reporting and Labeling Requirements for Products Containing Intentionally Added PFAS
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has updated its website to include information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products for consumers, businesses, and manufacturers. As reported in our May 4, 2026, memorandum, New Mexico recently enacted a final rule that includes prohibitions for certain consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS in 2027 and 2028; reporting on products containing intentionally added PFAS due...
On June 24, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) announced “the first comprehensive federal settlement with a major PFAS manufacturer, Chemours.” Under the $450 million settlement agreement, Chemours will spend more than $337 million on injunctive relief, including an estimated $280 million to provide alternative drinking water, $60 million to ensure compliance with...
For more than a decade, litigation over glyphosate-based herbicides has sat at the intersection of federal pesticide regulation, state tort law, scientific risk assessment, and broader debates over the role of juries in evaluating product safety. The Supreme Court's June 25, 2026, decision in Monsanto Company v. Durnell (Durnell) represents the Court's most significant interpretation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act's (FIFRA) preemption provision since...