Thursday 13 January 2011 at 12:00 am
On January 7th, the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) issued a final ruling requiring manufacturers, importers, and processors of certain high production volume (HPV) chemical substances to conduct testing to obtain screening level data for health and environmental effects and chemical fate. The EPA initiated this effort to make certain basic information about the environmental fate and potential health and environmental hazards associated with the most widespread chemical substances in commerce available to the public. This final rule is effective February 7, 2011.
Tuesday 14 December 2010 at 02:27 am
On November 26, 2010, the EPA published a final ruling adding 16 chemicals to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). These 16 chemicals have been classified by the National Toxicology Program as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." The EPA has determined that these 16 chemicals meet the EPCRA section 313 criteria because they can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in humans. This final rule is effective November 30, 2010 and applys to the reporting year beginning January 1, 2011 (reports due July 1, 2012).
Monday 27 September 2010 at 12:00 am
On September 17, 2010 the EPA issued significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for two chemical substances identified generically as multi-walled carbon nanotubes and single-walled carbon nanotubes. This action requires persons who intend to manufacture, import, or process either of these two chemical substances for a use that is designated as a significant new use by this final rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. EPA believes that this action is necessary because these chemical substances may be hazardous to human health and the environment. The required notification will provide the EPA with the opportunity to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit
or limit that activity before it occurs. This final rule is effective October 18, 2010.
Monday 06 September 2010 at 12:00 am
In 2009 Taiwan's Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) declared their intent to establish a national chemical inventory. The new law will strengthen Taiwan's EPA and their Toxic Chemical Control Act, which was originally promulgated in November 1986. The strategy of establishing a chemical inventory is meant to stengthen their management of new and existing chemicals through risk assessment. As a result, actions may be taken on chemicals based on the assessment of the hazards, exposure scenarios and risks of chemical substances.
Taiwan's CLA and the Register Office are accepting nominations for existing chemicals, which have been in commerse between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 2010. The deadline for existing chemical substance nomination (ECN) is by December 31st 2010. Foreigner companies are also eligible to nominate their chemicals, if the chemical substances are imported to Taiwan or manufactured, handled, used or sold there. Once completed, the inventory will serve as the basis for future notification requirements. This is expected by the end of the first half of 2011.
Companies, which are doing business in Taiwan, should act as soon as possible, so there is no interuption in their business.
Friday 03 September 2010 at 03:01 am
On August 13, 2010, the EPA propsed modifications to the TSCA Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule. The information from this reporting allows the EPA to collect and then make public critical information on the manufacturing, processing and use of commercial chemicals, including current information on volumes of chemical production, manufacturing facility data and how the chemicals are used. The EPA proposes to amend the TSCA IUR rule, providing improved information for EPA to better identify and, where appropriate, take steps to manage risks associated with chemical substances and mixtures (referred to hereafter as chemical substances). The EPA is proposing to require electronic reporting of IUR information and to modify IUR reporting requirements, including certain circumstances that trigger reporting, the specific data to be reported, the reporting standard for processing and use information, and Confidential Business Information (CBI) reporting procedures. The comment period is open until October 12, 2010.
Wednesday 01 September 2010 at 12:00 am
On August 24, 2010, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a proposed rule to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations in order to better establish alignment with international standards. This will be achieved by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations and vessel stowage requirements. In particular these revisions are necessary to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations with recent changes made to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods--Model Regulations. Harmonization serves to facilitate international commerce; at the same time, harmonization promotes the safety of people, property, and the environment by reducing the potential for confusion and misunderstanding that could result if shippers and transporters were required to comply with two or more conflicting sets of regulatory requirements.
A comment period is now open; comments must be received by October 25, 2010. The proposed rule can be reviewed in the Federal Register. If adopted as a final rule, compliance with some of the provisions will be required by January 1, 2012.
