Memoranda

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a request for information (RFI) on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in commerce or potentially used in consumer products, potential exposures associated with the use of PFAS in consumer products, and potential human health effects associated with exposures to PFAS from their use in consumer products. 88 Fed. Reg. 64890. CPSC also announced the availability of a contractor report with a focus on PFAS that are...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on August 15, 2023, that it issued the third Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) test order requiring testing on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy. EPA has ordered the Chemours Company FC LLC, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, and 3M Company to conduct and submit testing on 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoyl fluoride (HFPO-DAF), “a substance used as...

On August 3, 2023, the Joint Subcommittee on Environment, Innovation, and Public Health Sustainable Chemistry Strategy Team (Sustainable Chemistry ST) of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) published a report entitled Sustainable Chemistry Report: Framing the Federal Landscape. As reported in our January 19, 2021, memorandum, the fiscal year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included the text of the bipartisan Sustainable Chemistry Research and...

On July 27, 2023, the United Nations (UN) published an electronic version of the tenth revision (Rev 10) of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) available for free for consultation purposes. The amendments to the ninth revision of the GHS (Rev 9) include the classification procedure for desensitized explosives (Chapter 2.17); the use of non-animal testing methods for classification of health hazards, in particular: skin corrosion/irritation...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a webinar on September 6, 2023, on its new framework (the Framework) for addressing new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and new uses of existing PFAS under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to EPA, the Framework outlines EPA’s planned approach when reviewing new PFAS and new uses of existing PFAS to ensure that, if allowed to enter into commerce, they will not be harmful to human...

Health Canada has begun a consultation on a proposal to introduce new requirements for consumer chemical products under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA). Health Canada states that many substances found in consumer chemical products, like household cleaning products, have been linked to human health hazards of concern (HHHOC) such as carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxicants. The proposed new requirements include the introduction of classification criteria for...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued draft guidance for industry on the registration and listing of cosmetic products under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) on August 7, 2023. The draft guidance provides details on the submissions process, including the information required and who is responsible for the submission. FDA is accepting comments until September 7, 2023. In addition, FDA seeks applications from interested parties to...

On August 2, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report entitled The EPA Lacks Complete Guidance for the New Chemicals Program to Ensure Consistency and Transparency in Decisions. According to OIG, EPA’s New Chemicals Division (NCD) “lacks assurance that the new chemicals review process operates as intended and achieves its objective to protect human health and the environment.” OIG made four recommendations, including...

Canada published a notice in the Canada Gazette on June 24, 2023, announcing that it is collecting information on 850 substances for the purpose of prioritization, risk assessment, and risk management. Canada is gathering information from Canadian manufacturers, importers, and users on the commercial status, facility information (for example, releases), and uses of these substances in Canada, pursuant to Section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)....

On July 10, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the draft supplement to the risk evaluation for 1,4-dioxane for public comment and peer review. 88 Fed. Reg. 43562. EPA states in its July 7, 2023, press release that the draft supplement to the 2020 risk evaluation considers air and water exposure pathways that were excluded from the earlier risk evaluation and exposure to 1,4-dioxane generated as a byproduct. The draft...