The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance for industry on the registration and listing of cosmetic products under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) on August 7, 2023. The draft guidance provides details on the submissions process, including the information required and who is responsible for the submission. FDA is accepting comments until September 7, 2023. In addition, FDA seeks applications from interested parties to...
August 7, 2023
OIG Reports that EPA “Lacks Complete Guidance for the New Chemicals Program to Ensure Consistency and Transparency in Decisions”
On August 2, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report entitled The EPA Lacks Complete Guidance for the New Chemicals Program to Ensure Consistency and Transparency in Decisions. According to OIG, EPA’s New Chemicals Division (NCD) “lacks assurance that the new chemicals review process operates as intended and achieves its objective to protect human health and the environment.” OIG made four recommendations, including...
Canada published a notice in the Canada Gazette on June 24, 2023, announcing that it is collecting information on 850 substances for the purpose of prioritization, risk assessment, and risk management. Canada is gathering information from Canadian manufacturers, importers, and users on the commercial status, facility information (for example, releases), and uses of these substances in Canada, pursuant to Section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)....
July 31, 2023
Draft Supplement to Risk Evaluation and Draft Revised TSCA Risk Determination for 1,4-Dioxane for Public Comment
On July 10, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the draft supplement to the risk evaluation for 1,4-dioxane for public comment and peer review. 88 Fed. Reg. 43562. EPA states in its July 7, 2023, press release that the draft supplement to the 2020 risk evaluation considers air and water exposure pathways that were excluded from the earlier risk evaluation and exposure to 1,4-dioxane generated as a byproduct. The draft...
July 27, 2023
EPA Will Accept Comment on Potential Expansion of Safer Choice and DfE Programs, Announces August 29, 2023, Webinar
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 environment.” 88 Fed....
July 26, 2023
EPA Will Propose to Ban Uses of CTC That Have Been Phased Out and Establish WCPP for Uses Not Prohibited
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 NBR 1475:2023...
July 14, 2023
EPA Announces New Framework Intended to Prevent Unsafe New and New Uses of PFAS from Entering the Market
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 July 6, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule under Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that will require reporting and recordkeeping requirements for asbestos. The pre-publication version of the final rule states that EPA will require certain persons who manufactured (including imported) or processed asbestos and asbestos-containing articles, including as an impurity, in the four years prior to the date of...