Blogs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on April 7, 2026, the creation of the USDA Guidance Portal, an online searchable, indexed database that contains guidance documents issued by USDA and its agencies that are currently in effect. Users can search all guidance documents in the library, or filter documents by date, agency (such as the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)), or topic (including biotechnology). USDA notes that the guidance documents lack the force and effect...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) presented on April 14, 2026, the Lexology Masterclass “PFAS in consumer products: a multi-state compliance guide,” which is now available to view on YouTube, Vimeo, and the B&C website. During this webinar, Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, B&C; Lindsay A. Holden, Ph.D., DABT, Senior Toxicologist/Regulatory Scientist, B&C; and Carla N. Hutton, Senior Regulatory Analyst, B&C, described and analyzed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances...

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.’s (B&C®) webinar “TSCA CBI Re-substantiation: When, Why, and How to Prepare,” presented April 9, 2026, is now available on-demand on YouTube, Vimeo, and the B&C website. In the webinar,  Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, B&C; Ryan N. Schmit, Of Counsel, B&C; and Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, B&C, cover: Background on Confidential Business Information (CBI) Expiration Provisions in the Toxic Substances Control Act...

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing on April 28, 2026, on the fiscal year (FY) 2027 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget. The only scheduled witness is EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. The hearing memo states that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) budget request for FY 2027 is $1.8 trillion in discretionary budget authority for executive branch departments and agencies. For EPA, President Trump seeks $4.2 billion in base...

Concerns about microplastics and their effect on human and environmental health are no longer confined to academic literature or environmental advocacy. On April 6, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) elevated the issue in a way that makes it harder for the regulated community to address the issue of microplastics as largely academic or purely speculative. EPA has proposed to add microplastics, for the first time, as a...

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced on April 23, 2026, the release of version 1.2 of the online system for reporting products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the PFAS Reporting Information System for Manufacturers (PRISM). According to MPCA, the enhancements include: A button to the create report page to download the template directly, and generating a pop-up box with reminders to enable macros once downloaded and see the reporting...

Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton announced on April 13, 2026, that he issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Lululemon USA Inc. (Lululemon) as part of an investigation into whether the Company “has misled consumers about the safety, quality, and health impacts of its products.” The press release notes that Lululemon “markets itself as a wellness-focused lifestyle brand emphasizing sustainability and performance.” According to the press release, “emerging research and...

On April 22, 2026, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled “Help or Hindrance? The Impact of U.S. Environmental Laws on Critical Material Supply Chains, National Security, and Economic Growth.” According to the April 15, 2026, hearing announcement, the hearing will examine how to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), and other environmental laws “to strengthen domestic supply chains, advance commonsense reforms, and keep...

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced on April 15, 2026, that it has extended the deadline to report intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products sold in Minnesota from July 1, 2026, to September 15, 2026. MPCA states that it extended the deadline to allow manufacturers additional time to use the upgraded reporting guide (which explains basic function of the PFAS Reporting and Information System for Manufacturers (PRISM)), supplemental guide (which...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 14, 2026, a new initiative called PFAS OUTreach -- or PFAS OUT. According to EPA, the new effort proactively works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water, “years ahead of compliance with federal regulatory requirements.” EPA states that it aims to engage directly about 3,000 drinking water systems nationwide that have...