Memoranda

Panel Discussion to Be Held Wednesday, October 15, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (EDT) On October 15, 2015, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Wilson Center) will host “Leveraging Synthetic Biology’s Promise and Managing Potential Risk,” a panel discussion featuring Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), and Todd Kuiken, Ph.D., Senior Program Associate, Synthetic Biology Project, Wilson Center. The...

On October 6, 2015, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit relevant data and information, including case studies that may assist in the development of the proposed update to the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (CF). The RFI will assist OSTP in clarifying the current roles and responsibilities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and...

On September 28, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced revisions to its worker protection standard.  EPA states that these revisions are intended to “enhance the protections provided to agricultural workers, pesticide handlers, and other persons under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) by strengthening elements of the existing regulation, such as training, notification, pesticide safety and hazard communication information, use of personal protective...

California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released for comment its Draft Stage 1 Alternatives Analysis Guide (Draft AA Guide). Under the Safer Consumer Products Regulations (SCPR), responsible entities (generally, manufacturers) must perform an AA for the listed Chemical of Concern (COC) and Priority Product (PP) combination to determine how best to limit potential exposures or the level of potential adverse public health and environmental impacts posed by the...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced in a September 14, 2015, press release, “FTC Sends Warning Letters about Green Certification Seals,” that it sent warning letters to five providers of environmental certification seals and 32 businesses using those seals, “alerting them to the agency’s concerns that the seals could be considered deceptive and may not comply with the FTC’s environmental marketing guidelines.” FTC states that environmental...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on September 17, 2015, a signed final significant new use rule (SNUR) for hexabromocyclododecane or 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). Under the final rule, persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process HBCD for use in consumer textiles (other than for use in motor vehicles) must notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. EPA notes that in this SNUR, the exemption for persons importing or...

On September 2, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), in accordance with guidelines developed by ATSDR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), issued a proposed Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls for review and comment that included updated toxicological profiles for 13 perfluorinated chemicals, including two well-studied perfluorinated chemicals, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the August 25, 2015, Federal Register announcing a public meeting on September 30, 2015, to receive public input and comments on EPA’s data needs to support risk assessments of biotechnology products subject to oversight under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that make use of genetically engineered algae and cyanobacteria. The notice states that the workshop will inform an update to an...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted a document concerning its development of a project intended to support public dialog concerning the development and use of biotechnology.  EPA has oversight responsibility for the production and use of intergeneric cyanobacteria, eukaryotic microalgae, and their products by application of genetic engineering approaches.  EPA’s recently posted document, US Environmental Protection Agency Biotechnology Algae Project, states...

On July 20, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued OSHA Directive Number CPL 02-02-079. The Directive is intended to establish “policies and procedures to ensure uniform enforcement of the Hazard Communication standard” (HCS 2012). The Directive repeals previous instructions CPL 02-02-038 and CPL 02-02-039. It also cancels both enforcement memorandums effective February 9, 2015, and May 29, 2015, respectively. For more...