The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

The EPA announced on Monday that they will begin sending electronic letters acknowledging receipt of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) notices of substantial risk that were submitted electronically via the Central Data Exchange (CDX).

Policy, RegulationJames EdeSeptember 28, 2017CDX, EPA, electronic communication, TSCA, TSCA notices, Toxic Substances Control Act, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) notices of substantial riskComment

Maine Bans All Flame Retardants in Upholstered Furniture; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Calls for Removal of Organohalogenated Flame Retardants in Consumer Products

Maine has banned all flame retardant chemicals in upholstered furniture despite Governor Paul LePage’s veto.

Regulation, PolicyJames EdeSeptember 19, 2017Maine, Flame-retardant chemical, flame-retardant chemical ban, upholstered furniture, Vireo Advisors, Govenor LePage, exposure to carcinogens, firefighter groupsComment

TSCA Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) Rule

Under The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required the reporting of all chemicals manufactured or imported in the U.S. over the last 10 years (which ended on June 21, 2016).

Policy, Regulation, Risk AnalysisJames EdeSeptember 7, 2017Vireo Advisors, EPA, TSCA, Toxic Substances Control Act, Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety, active or inactive rule, risk evaluationComment

EPA Released Updated Guidance for the TSCA Nano Rule

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Information Gathering Rule on Nanomaterials in Commerce (EPA Nano Rule) took effect on August 14th (see our updates on this rule here).

Policy, Regulation, Nanomaterials, GuidanceJames EdeAugust 23, 2017EPA, Guidance for the TSCA NanoRule, working guidance, Section 8(a) Information Gathering Rule on Nanomaterials in Commerce, nanomaterial, nanoscale substances, Vireo AdvisorsComment

EPA Nanotechnology Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Rule Becomes Active

The TSCA section 8(a) Nanotechnology Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Rule came into effect on August 14, 2017, and also released final guidance toward compliance with the rule.

Nanomaterials, Policy, GuidanceJames EdeAugust 15, 2017TSCA section 8(a) Nanotechnology Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Rule, August 14, nanoscale substances, final guidance, one-time reporting and recordkeeping, nanomaterialsComment

California proposing to list three flame retardants as chemicals of concern

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is proposing to add three fire retardant chemicals (tetrabromobisphenol A; N,N-dimethylformamide; and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole) to the list of chemicals of concern in the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986(Proposition 65). The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is proposing to add three fire retardant chemicals (tetrabromobisphenol A; N,N-dimethylformamide; and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole) to the list of chemicals of concern in the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986(Proposition 65).

Policy, RegulationJames EdeAugust 8, 2017fire retardant chemicals, tetrabromobisphenol A; N, N-dimethylformamide; and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Proposition 65, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Group 2AComment

Personal Care Products Council says Plastic Microbeads in Cosmetics are "Tiny Contributors" to Marine Pollution

The UN Environment Programme's Clean Seas campaign has called for a global ban of microbeads in cosmetics due to their contribution to marine pollution.

Environment, Guidance, Leadership, Regulation, PolicyJames EdeAugust 3, 2017clean seas program, microbeads, microbead ban, UK, Taiwan, South Korea, UN, Ireland, PCPC, The Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations, U.S. Microbead-Free Waters ActComment

European Commission publishes first inventory of nanomaterials in cosmetics

European Commission has published an inventory of 43 nanomaterials used in cosmetics.

Nanomaterials, Policy, RegulationJames EdeJuly 12, 2017European Commission, first inventory of nanomaterials in cosmetics, nanomaterials, preservatives, colorants and UV-filters, EUComment

EPA issues three final TSCA framework rules

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. The U.S. EPA recently released the three final TSCA framework rules.

Leadership, Risk Analysis, Policy, RegulationJames EdeJuly 6, 2017TSCA, EPA, TSCA Framework Rules, Scott PruittComment

New criteria for cleaning products introduced by EU Ecolabel

European Commission policy officer Kristine Dorosko announced at the Cleaning Products Europe Conference in March that stricter limits to the EU Ecolabel criteria for cleaning products will be introduced in June 2017.