All Knowledge & Insights By Date

The bipartisan 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg) Amendments enacted extensive changes to the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that many hoped would set the law on a new course, address its widely recognized challenges, and accelerate U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actions to address public health threats. Since then, four administrations have put their mark on implementation of the amended law. The past ten years have seemed like a...

As we discussed in our recent podcast episode, manufacturers of products sold, offered for sale, or distributed for sale in Minnesota must submit a report by September 15, 2026, that includes information about each product or component that contains intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Minnesota legislature amended the statute in May 2026 to exclude products manufactured before July 1, 2023, from the reporting requirements. This date exemption applies to the...

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) posted a blog item on August 27, 2026, entitled “American Chemical Safety Decisions Should Be Based on American Conditions of Use.” As we reported in our January 27, 2026, and March 6, 2026, memoranda, the House and Senate have each held hearings on discussion drafts of legislation that would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EDF’s blog item explores why the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) experience,...

On August 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) advised the public of its determination that Darling 54 American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), which was developed using genetic engineering for tolerance to the fungal pathogen, Cryphonectria parasitica, is no longer considered regulated. 91 Fed Reg. 55510. According to the notice, APHIS’ determination is based on its evaluation of information and data submitted...

On August 26, 2026, the American Chemical Society (ACS) recognized the winners of the ACS 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards (GCCA) during the ACS Fall 2026 meeting. When announcing the winners, Albert G. Horvath, ACS chief executive officer, shared: "This year's Green Chemistry Challenge Award winners show how chemistry is solving real problems, from recycling materials once considered impossible to reuse to removing harmful substances from the products and processes we depend on every day....

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to present “Plastics and Policy: Microplastics, EPR, and Other Emerging Trends,” a complimentary webinar providing regulatory professionals with the latest updates on emerging microplastics and recycling legal and regulatory issues. U.S. federal and state lawmakers have advanced multiple initiatives related to microplastics focused on health research, exposure assessment, and regulatory frameworks, including increased funding for research,...

On July 6, 2026, the American Chemical Society (ACS) announced the winners of the 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. According to ACS, the 2026 awards “recognize outstanding work in recyclable polyurethanes [PU], cleaner pharmaceutical manufacturing, sustainable crop protection, biodegradable polymers, [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)]-free semiconductor cooling and biocide-free marine coatings.” ACS notes that these innovations “reduce or eliminate hazardous substances, cut...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced on August 18, 2026, that it has received a petition from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. seeking a determination of nonregulated status for COR-23134-4 soybean (Glycine max), referred to as COR23134, which has been developed using genetic engineering to express Cry1B.34.1, Cry1B.61.1, and IPD083Cb proteins to protect against certain susceptible lepidopteran pests, and the GM-HRA protein...

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held a High-Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, in August 2026. According to APEC’s August 20, 2026, press release, participants discussed new innovations and strengthened safety principles for genome technologies. Member countries demonstrated how precision breeding produces tangible results with adoption spreading across different fruits, vegetables, and meat. The press release notes that 75...