All Knowledge & Insights By Date

On April 15, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final list of chemicals in the first group of substances that will be screened under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). Development of this list caps a long, thoughtful, and arduous administrative process that spans over a decade. This “Washington Watch” column briefly reviews the development of the program, with emphasis on key elements of the current EDSP. The discussion also highlights the...

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (Fourth Report), which provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S. population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.  The Fourth Report presents data for the U.S. population for 212 environmental chemicals over the period 2003-2004, updating CDC’s 2005 Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental...

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) announced the development of two voluntary pilot programs for antimicrobial pesticide products.  Working collaboratively with the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC), OPP explored the different types of label statements and logos for antimicrobial pesticide product labels.  OPP developed the Factual Label Statement Pilot Program and the OPP-Design for the Environment (DfE) Logo Pilot...

Earlier today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of a policy paper entitled Revised Risk Assessment Methods for Workers, Children of Workers in Agricultural Fields, and Pesticides with No Food Uses, which describes how EPA plans to use revised methods in conducting risk assessments for pesticide uses and exposures not governed by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).  According to EPA, implementing this policy will increase...

During the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Member State Committee’s December 2-4, 2009, meeting, the Committee unanimously agreed that 15 new substances of very high concern (SVHC) would be added to the Candidate List.  The Committee also unanimously agreed on a testing proposal from ECHA that was submitted under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation.  More information on these actions is provided below. 15 SVHCs to Be Added to...

On November 3-5, 2009, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) met “to consider and review a set of scientific issues related to the assessment of hazard and exposure associated with nanosilver and other nanometal pesticide products.” The decision to convene an SAP was nominally motivated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) need to consider four applications pending at the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) seeking...

Today the full Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health held a joint hearing entitled “Oversight Hearing on the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act.”  During the hearing, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee, stated that he is preparing legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  In 2005 and 2008, Lautenberg introduced the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act, which...

On November 20, 2009, the European Union (EU) Council approved an updated cosmetics regulation that would require cosmetic products that contain nanoscale ingredients to be labeled as such.  The regulation would also require the manufacturers of new cosmetic products containing nanomaterials to notify the European Commission (EC) and provide certain information six months before the product is placed on the European market.  If the EC has concerns regarding the safety of the...

The November 30, 2009, issue of BNA Daily Environment Report quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding the cosmetics regulation recently adopted by the European Union Council. The regulation would require that manufacturers label products that include nanomaterials. According to Bergeson, consumer confidence and a manufacturer’s brand name could be harmed if the word “nano” is disclosed with incorrect or no context....

The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU) is pleased to announce that it relocated its offices on November 26, 2009. Please update your records with Acta EU’s new address, phone numbers, and fax number below. There will be no change in the e-mail address. The Acta Group EU, LtdAvanta Royal Mills17 Redhill StreetAncoats Urban VillageManchester, M4 5BA, UK+44 (0) 1612164260 (main number)+44 (0) 1612164263 (fax number)...

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released and requested comment on a draft document titled, “A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change” (EPA/600/R-09/011).  74 Fed. Reg. 61671.  The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA’s Office of Research and Development.  The draft document describes an evaluative framework to categorize the relative...

We are pleased to announce that Lynn L. Bergeson is included on the list of top environmental lawyers in the feature on top lawyers in the December 2009 issue of Washingtonian . Washingtonian compiled its list of top lawyers relying heavily on peer recommendations, asking attorneys who was setting the standard in his or her field. Washingtonian’s list of the 800 top lawyers in 29 legal specialties represents the top one percent of lawyers in D.C....

We are pleased to announce that Joseph E. Plamondon, Ph.D., who works for both Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C) and The Acta Group, L.L.C., a B&C consulting affiliate, will be speaking at the Sixth International Fresenius Chemicals Policy Conference: REACH in Practice, on December 7-8, 2009, in Cologne, Germany. On December 8, 2009, Dr. Plamondon will provide an update on the current status of reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and address chemical nomenclature...

On September 16, 2009, Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW), with and relying on the advice and assistance of The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU), an affiliate of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., submitted the first appeal against a decision of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA or the Agency) with the ECHA Board of Appeal, on behalf of the registrant. On the basis of this submission, on October 14, 2009, the Executive Director of ECHA rectified the...

On September 16, 2009, Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW), with and relying on the advice and assistance of The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU), an affiliate of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., submitted the first appeal against a decision of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA or the Agency) with the ECHA Board of Appeal, on behalf of the registrant. On the basis of this submission, on October 14, 2009, the Executive Director of ECHA rectified the...

Today the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled “Prioritizing Chemicals for Safety Determination.”  The hearing was intended to examine the options for prioritizing chemicals for safety determinations in the event that Congress passes legislation amending the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and reflects Congress’s sustained interest in chemical management reform legislation. The hearing, which was...

The November 17, 2009, issue of BNA Daily Environment Report quotes Lynn L. Bergeson regarding Australia’s proposed strategy to regulate new nanoscale chemicals and existing chemicals produced at the nanoscale. According to Bergeson, the proposal is “refreshingly thorough and comprehensive” and could serve as a model for other governments....

Today the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the online availability of a webinar regarding preparing and submitting a registration dossier.  ECHA held the webinar on November 4, 2009, for lead registrants.  The objective of the webinar was to provide lead registrants with an understanding of the main technical concepts required to be able to prepare and submit a registration dossier.  ECHA covered the following topics:  exporting information as an IUCLID 5...

On October 29, 2009, the European Commission (EC) adopted a Communication entitled Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies: An Action Plan for Europe 2005-2009. Second Implementation Report 2007-2009. The Communication outlines the key developments during 2007-2009 in each policy area of the Nanotechnology Action Plan 2005-2009, identifies current challenges, and draws conclusions relevant to the future European nanotechnology policy. According to the Communication, the EC has made significant...

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...