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On July 25, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced an opportunity for public input on the potential expansion of the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) programs’ certification to new product categories. EPA notes in its July 27, 2023, Federal Register notice that Safer Choice “helps consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform and contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are pleased to announce that Lynn L. Bergeson will present during the “Use and Regulation of Chemicals” session of the Practising Law Institute’s (PLI) Environmental Regulation in Practice 2023: New Challenges and Controversies program on August 2, 2023. Ms. Bergeson and co-presenter Alexandra Dapolito Dunn will discuss: The scope of the Toxic Substances Control Act Knowing the...

On July 17, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will propose to ban uses of carbon tetrachloride (CTC) that have been phased out and establish a workplace chemical protection program (WCPP) for uses not prohibited to address the unreasonable risk to human health. EPA states in the prepublication version of the proposed rule that it determined that CTC presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health due to cancer from chronic inhalation and...

On July 3, 2023, the Brazil Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) adopted the amendment to the standard for classifying and labeling chemicals according to NBR 14725. The “new” NBR 14725:2023 merges the four-part standard into one, and adopts the 7th revised edition of the United Nations (UN) Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). These revisions enter into force on July 4, 2025. The following four parts consolidated into...

On June 20, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 18 chemicals subject to premanufacture notices (PMNs). The rulemaking reflects a level of EPA discomfort with certain new chemicals derived from plastic waste. This article explains the significance of this proposal....

The Acta Group (Acta®) and EPPA’s July 11, 2023, webinar, “Preparing a PFAS Game Plan in the U.S., the UK, and the EU,” is now available for on-demand viewing. During this one-hour webinar, Meglena Mihova, Managing Partner of EPPA, a Brussels-based regulatory and public affairs consultancy; Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Acta; and Lynn L. Bergeson, President, Acta, discussed bans, restrictions, and reporting requirements for Perfluoroalkyl and...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June 29, 2023, a new framework (the Framework) for addressing new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and new uses of existing PFAS. The Framework outlines EPA’s planned approach when reviewing new PFAS and new uses of PFAS to ensure that, before these chemicals are allowed to enter into commerce, EPA will undertake an extensive evaluation to ensure they pose no harm to human health and the environment....

On July 5, 2023, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to solicit stakeholder feedback on initiatives PHMSA is considering that may modernize the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) and improve efficiencies while maintaining or improving a current high level of safety. 88 Fed. Reg. 43016. To engage fully with stakeholders, the ANPRM solicits comments and input on questions related to 46 distinct topics...

On June 28, 2023, Rebecca Pow, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), signed the REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2023, extending the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration deadlines. The Explanatory Memorandum states that the amendment extends the current legislative deadlines for registrants to submit information to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under UK REACH. It also...

On June 29, 2023, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health presented “TSCA Reform -- Seven Years Later.” This virtual conference marked the seventh Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Annual Conference, reflecting on the accomplishments and challenges since the implementation of the 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act) and where...