US President Signs Toxic Substances Control Act Reform Bill

On June 22, 2016, the US President signed into law a new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform Bill. The new bill, entitled the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (LCSA), H.R.2576, makes significant revisions to the previous TSCA regulations, dating from 1976.

The amendments contained within the law, effectively:
• Charge the EPA with the creation of a classification system designed to prioritize which chemicals need to undergo scientific review for health and environmental effects – initial chemicals for evaluation must be selected by December 18, 2016
• Give the EPA powers to require chemical manufacturers to test chemicals
• Grant resources to the EPA to fund chemical studies
• Set concrete limits on the time the EPA has to review a chemical – maximum 3.5 years for evaluation
• Give the EPA a framework and powers to regulate chemical use after the studies are complete
• Allow the EPA to collect up to $25 million dollars a year in user fees from chemical manufacturers and chemical processors

For chemical manufacturers, the new law should:

• Speed up the approval process for chemical substances
• Ensure that evaluations are made using only risk-based science that considers a chemical’s effect on health and the environment
• Protect the Confidential Business Information (CBI) of chemical manufacturers
• Create a deadline for EPA review of CBI requests

Like the previous law, LCSA is focused primarily on chemical substances rather than chemicals used in articles. The EPA retains the ability to regulate articles if it can be demonstrated that there is a risk of chemical exposure from the article. LSCA also does not prevent any state laws that affect manufacturers of consumer products that were enacted before April 22, 2016; this includes Proposition 65 and the Washington, Maine, and Vermont reporting laws.

A new TSCA had been considered necessary due to the perceived failure of the previous law. In the 40 years since its enactment, the 1976 TSCA had only banned five chemicals.

SGS Consumer Products Services
Through our global network of laboratories, our experts can assist with all questions relating to chemical analysis, identification and compliance in consumer products. SGS offers the full-range of inspection, testing, certification, verification and training services, helping your company develop and market products with minimum risk. Learn more about SGS’s Consumer Product Services (www.sgs.com/cgnr)

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full USA Toxic Substances Control Act Reform Bill Signed by President SafeGuardS. (www.sgs.com/en/news/2016/07/safeguards-13016-usa-toxic-substances-control-act-reform-bill-signed-by-president)

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For further information contact:

Kenneth Stanvick
Technical Manager, Consumer and Retail Services
Tel: (+01) 603 305 4103
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: sgs.com/cgnr

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world.

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This release was published on openPR.