Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed significant new use rules (SNUR) under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for two chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN). EPA identified the substances generically as multi-walled carbon nanotubes and single-walled carbon nanotubes. According to the notice, these substances are subject to TSCA Section 5(e) consent orders issued by EPA. The consent orders require protective...
On October 27-28, 2009, the Ninth Antimicrobial Workshop was held in Arlington, Virginia. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) Biocides Panel, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), and ISSA sponsored the Workshop, which was conducted in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Antimicrobials Division. The Workshop included presentations on the following topics: According to the Workshop organizers, the presentations will be available by the end of this week...
November 4, 2009
EPA Announces Draft Pesticide Registration Notice Concerning Drift Labeling and Petition Regarding Children’s Exposures to Pesticide Drift
Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of a Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice entitled “Pesticide Drift Labeling” (2009-X) and a draft explanatory document entitled “Pesticide Drift Labeling Interpretation.” In a separate Federal Register notice, EPA announced that, on October 13, 2009, Earthjustice and Farmworker Justice, on behalf of several other organizations, filed a petition requesting that EPA...
Today the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the availability of its Guidance in a Nutshell: Chemical Safety Assessment, which is intended to assist industry in understanding the general provisions for conducting a Chemical Safety Assessment (CSA). ECHA states that the Guidance is aimed at non-experts who would like to understand the legal requirements under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation regarding substance...
On October 14 and 15, 2009, the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) held its semiannual meeting in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offices in Arlington, Virginia. This memorandum summarizes the presentations and topics discussed during the meeting, which were organized into seven sessions: Copies of the slides and handouts from the meeting are available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ppdc/2009/october/october09.html. In his introductory remarks, Steve Owens,...
This memorandum outlines research being sponsored, conducted, or planned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding nanoscale materials. FDA has indicated repeatedly that it needs additional information on the characterization of such materials to make informal decisions regarding the safety of regulated products that incorporate nanotechnology.1 While those decisions are for the most part in the future, there is at least one use of nanotechnology in drug and cosmetic products...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted two prepublication Federal Register notices concerning its Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). In the first notice, EPA announces the EDSP Tier 1 battery of assays and availability of test guidelines for conducting the assays included in the battery. In the second notice, EPA announces the issuance of the initial EDSP screening orders and the schedule of issuance. EPA expects both notices to be...
Earlier this year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a voluntary labeling program for biobased products and solicited comment on its approach. Under the proposed labeling program, manufacturers and vendors could, after obtaining certification from USDA, market the certified biobased product using the “USDA Certified Biobased Product” label. The proposed program would also apply to other entities, such as trade associations, that wish to use the label to...
At yesterday’s Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee meeting, Steven Bradbury, Deputy Office Director for Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs, announced that Steve Owens, Assistant Administrator of the EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, would be signing later in the day the Federal Register notice concerning the schedule for sending out test orders for the final list of chemicals for initial Tier 1 Screening...
On October 6, 2009, environmental, consumer, and industry associations hosted a conference entitled “The Future of U.S. Chemicals Policy.” Sponsors included the Environmental Working Group, Rachel’s Network, The Pew Health Group, Community Against Pollution, The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, American Chemistry Council, Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Turner Foundation, Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), and Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA). U.S....