Blogs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on June 25, 2024, that it will soon publish a request for information (RFI) in the Federal Register, beginning a 60-day public comment period. According to APHIS, the RFI will explore options to reduce the regulatory burden for modified microbes. APHIS states that it developed the RFI in response to stakeholder requests. Specifically, APHIS will request comments to help identify: Potential...

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is evaluating the function of the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON). As part of its evaluation, ECHA is conducting a survey to collect responses from EUON website visitors and stakeholders. The survey includes questions concerning evaluation criteria such as use, effectiveness, coherence, EU-added value, and utility. The survey notes that under an ongoing legislative proposal, the European Commission (EC) foresees setting up a common...

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will hold two public webinars in July to provide updates and answer questions on Minnesota’s per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products law (Amara’s Law), which takes effect in stages between 2025 and 2032: Progress on rule development, July 18, 2024, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (CDT): Join MPCA staff for a presentation on preliminary rule writing for the PFAS in products reporting, fees, and currently unavoidable use (CUU) rules....

On June 12, 2024, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced that it updated its report on key areas of regulatory challenge, providing more detailed information on areas where scientific research is needed to protect human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. The report addresses micro- and nano-size materials, stating: Why further research is needed: Critical test methods to address the human and environmental hazard and risk assessment of nanomaterials are still missing....

On June 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of a draft Pesticide Registration Notice entitled Revised Procedures for Citing Data to Support Pesticide Registrations (EPA Forms No. 8570-34 and 8570-35) (Draft PR Notice). 89 Fed. Reg. 48893. EPA states that this Draft PR Notice will supersede PR Notice 98-5, entitled New Forms for the Certification with Respect to Citation of Data,which was issued on June 12, 1998....

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June 13, 2024, the change in the peer review mechanism from the letter peer review to a Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) peer review; the addition of the draft human health hazard assessment for 1,2-dichloroethane for peer review; and the availability of and solicitation of comment on the list of candidates under consideration for selection as ad hoc peer reviewers that will assist SACC with its peer review of EPA’s...

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), requested comments on June 13, 2024, on the “National Nanotechnology Initiative Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy: 2024 Update” (2024 Update). 89 Fed. Reg. 50390. NNCO states that federal agencies participating in NSET’s Nanotechnology Environmental and...

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) will hold a webinar on June 27, 2024, on “What’s Next in NanoEHS: Risk Assessment and Risk Management.” During the webinar, rising nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (nanoEHS) experts Nathan Drew, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and Yueyang “Brian” Zhang, Vireo Advisors, LLC, will share their perspectives on the new tools, approaches, and models that are being developed to assess and manage...

TSCA Reform -- Eight Years LaterJune 26, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (EDT) In person at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, D.C.,and virtually via livestream Register now to attend in person or virtually the complimentary “TSCA Reform -- Eight Years Later” conference, presented by Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health....

On June 11, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published proposed significant new use rules (SNUR) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN) and are also subject to a TSCA Order, including multi-walled carbon nanotubes (generic) (P-21-216 and P-21-217). 89 Fed. Reg. 49121. The SNURs would require persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is proposed as a...