The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 31, 2024, a 30-day public comment period on candidates currently under consideration for membership on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). This public comment period follows a November 2023 call for nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the SACC. EPA notes that there are currently 18 SACC members, with eight membership terms that will soon...
February 9, 2024
NIOSH Collaborates Globally on Workplace Safety of Nanomaterials
On February 1, 2024, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a NIOSH Science Blog item entitled “NIOSH Global Collaborations on Workplace Safety of Nanomaterials.” According to the blog item, NIOSH’s global collaboration efforts “build on the strong NIOSH [Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC)] research and guidance efforts contributing to the global technical information and guidance about protecting workers and aim to facilitate international...
February 9, 2024
EPA Will Hold Webinar on February 20, 2024, on Five Chemicals Undergoing TSCA Prioritization
On January 31, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will hold a webinar on February 20, 2024, at 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (EST) on the five chemicals currently undergoing prioritization under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA states that the webinar is open to all, “but EPA is particularly interested in learning more about how these chemicals are used and how people could potentially be exposed at different points in...
February 8, 2024
EPA Releases Guidance to Clarify How It Will Evaluate “Absence of an Ingredient” Claim for Pesticides
On February 1, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to clarify how it will evaluate “absence of an ingredient” claims for pesticide products regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). EPA states that it is aware that the regulated community seeks clarity on whether and how “absence of an ingredient” claims can be made lawfully on FIFRA-regulated product labels. EPA states that it will consider an “absence of...
February 7, 2024
EPA Extends Review Period for CBI Claims for the Identity of Chemicals on the TSCA Inventory
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 24, 2024, that it is extending the review period for confidential business information (CBI) claims for specific identity of all active chemical substances listed on the confidential portion of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory submitted to EPA under TSCA. 89 Fed. Reg. 4605. EPA states that it “has determined that an extension of the statutory review period for the review of CBI claims under...
February 7, 2024
Lynn L. Bergeson, “OSHA Issues Updated Process Safety Management Enforcement Guidance,” Chemical Processing, February 7, 2024.
On Jan. 26, 2024, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued updated enforcement guidance regarding compliance with OSHA’s standard for the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (PSM standard). The new directive, CPL 02-01-065, provides much-needed updates to the guidance issued in 1994 and explains OSHA’s current thinking regarding compliance with the PSM standard. ...
The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) GlobalChem Conference brings together professionals, government representatives, subject matter experts, and vendors to review the recent developments in domestic and global chemicals management. Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., will present during the New Chemicals session on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. B&C is a proud sponsor....
February 5, 2024
EUON Announces New Tender Notices Published by ECHA
The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced on February 5, 2024, that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published two new ex-ante publicity notices for two service contracts:...
On February 2, 2024, Lynn L. Bergeson was quoted by Science in the article “Does fluoride in drinking water lower IQ? Question looms large in court battle.” The case, being heard in a federal district court, “is precedent setting,” says Lynn Bergeson, a managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell who focuses on chemical toxicity. Rarely have judges had to “manage the enormity of this record of scientific evidence. … That’s why there’s a lot of attention...