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

Comments Due for Nanoform-Specific Registration Requirements Proposed for E.U.’s REACH Legislation

On October 9th, 2017, The European Commission (EC) released a Draft Regulation that would amend the E.U.’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction) Regulation to address nanoforms.

Flame Retardants Are Not All Created Equal

Here we discuss what exactly flame retardant chemicals are, why they are used in some classes of consumer products, and why blanket bans on such a diverse group of chemicals, such as the recent ban passed in Maine, is a bad idea when trying to protect consumers.

Environment, Policy, RegulationJames EdeSeptember 28, 2017Vireo Advisors, James Ede, Flame Retardants Ban, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maine, fire protection, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), organohalogens, human health effects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potential neurotoxic effects in humansComment

EPA Begins CDX Electronic Communication

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

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.