Memoranda

The results of the United Kingdom’s December 12, 2019, elections give the Conservative Party under the leadership of Boris Johnson a clear mandate to withdraw from the European Union (EU), a process colloquially known as “Brexit,” by the January 31, 2020, deadline agreed with the EU. The mandate is clear, the details of withdrawal are not, and the forthcoming negotiation with the EU promises to be challenging. Brexit has attracted unparalleled levels of attention from the...

The latest revisions to the Act on Registration, Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals [Act No. 15844, October 16, 2018] in South Korea (K-REACH) entered into force on January 1, 2019. Its first significant compliance deadline required manufacturers and importers to pre-register existing substances by June 30, 2019. The industry is now shifting its focus to registration requirements that provide the following phase-in timelines. Article 11 of the Act provides exemptions from registration for...

On December 4, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting information as EPA considers a future rulemaking to add certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) (more commonly known as the Toxics Release Inventory...

There is less than one month before the effective date of the online requirements set forth in California’s Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 (S.B. 258). S.B. 258 sets forth new requirements on manufacturers of “designated products” to disclose certain chemical ingredients on the manufacturer’s website and product label. The online ingredient disclosure requirements set forth under California’s law are applicable to designated products sold in California as of January 1,...

On November 13, 2019, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing on “Strengthening Transparency or Silencing Science? The Future of Science in EPA Rulemaking.” The hearing focused on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) April 30, 2018, proposed rule on “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science,” as well as a leaked copy of EPA’s supplemental proposed rule that was published by the New York Times on November 11, 2019. Dr....

On November 4, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of the draft risk evaluation for N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), which includes more than 30 uses of NMP in adhesives, sealants, paints and arts and craft paints, paint and coating removers, adhesive removers, and degreasers. In the draft risk evaluation, EPA has made a preliminary determination that NMP does not present risks to the environment, bystanders, or occupational non-users (ONU)....

On October 29, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the draft Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation for methylene chloride (MC). 84 Fed. Reg. 57866. As reported in our October 25, 2019, memorandum, EPA is submitting the same document to the TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) for peer review. SACC will convene an in-person public meeting to consider and review the...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will publish a Federal Register notice on October 29, 2019, announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment on the draft Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation of methylene chloride (MC). EPA states that it is also submitting the same document to the TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) for peer review and that SACC will convene an in-person public meeting to consider and review the draft risk...

On October 11, 2019, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (D) signed legislation (S.2387-B/A.164-B) requiring menstrual product packages or boxes sold in New York State to contain a “plain and conspicuous printed list of all the ingredients in the products.” According to Cuomo’s October 11, 2019, press release, the new law makes New York the first state to require ingredient labels on menstrual products. The legislation will take effect in 180 days, and product manufacturers will...

On October 4, 2019, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) proposed modifications to amendments it proposed on November 16, 2018, to the Proposition 65 (Prop 65) regulations setting forth the circumstances when a “retail seller” is responsible for providing consumer product exposure warnings. As discussed below, OEHHA first proposed amendments clarifying retail seller responsibilities in response to questions and requests for clarification it...