Among its other requirements and authorities, Section 5 of new TSCA generally requires that a company timely submit to EPA a notice of its intent to manufacture or process a new chemical or significant new use (NC/SNU). EPA is then required to conduct a review of the Section 5(a)(1) notice and make a determination on the NC/SNU and take required additional actions. Questions have been raised as to whether the review period is fixed and requires that EPA determinations and actions be...
September 30, 2016
Update To The Coordinated Framework For The Regulation Of Biotechnology Published In The Federal Reg
On September 22, 2016, Clarifying Current Roles and Responsibilities Described in the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (Update to the Coordinated Framework) was published in the Federal Register . This proposed update provides a comprehensive summary of the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with respect to the regulation of...
On September 12, 2016, the Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Incentive Extension Act of 2016 (H.R. 5994) was introduced to the House of Representatives and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. The bill was introduced by Representative Diane Black (R-TN), and would extend the $1 per gallon biodiesel and renewable diesel blenders credit, originally set to expire December 31, 2016, through December 31, 2018. The blenders tax credit of $1 was created in 2005 for biodiesel or...
September 30, 2016
EU Ethanol Industry Pushes Back Against EC’s Low-Emission Mobility Strategy
On September 21, 2016, Pannonia Ethanol, a Hungarian biofuels company, spoke out against the European Commission's (EC) Low-Emission Mobility Strategy . The strategy recognizes the importance of biofuels in reducing road emissions, and plans on replacing ethanol that is currently being blended into traditional fuels with advanced biofuels. This has spurred concerns for the ethanol industry, as ethanol is increasingly phased out of government emission reduction initiatives in favor of...
September 30, 2016
Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News
BioAmber, "BioAmber Achieves Important Milestone in U.S. DOE Loan Guarantee Process" BusinessWire, "JetBlue Announces One of the Largest Renewable Jet Fuel Purchase Agreements in Aviation History" WSU News, "Researchers Make Breakthrough in Biobased Materials" Times of Malta, "France Bans Plastic Plates, Cups and Cutlery"
September 29, 2016
Lynn L. Bergeson, “Minnesota Adds Several Nanomaterials to List of Chemicals of High Concern,” Nanotechnology Now, September 29, 2016.
On September 13, 2016, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced the availability of an updated list of chemicals of high concern. See http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/hazardous/topics/toxfreekids/highconcern.html#list
September 29, 2016
Minnesota Adds Several Nanomaterials to List of Chemicals of High Concern
On September 13, 2016, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced the availability of an updated list of chemicals of high concern. Chemicals added to the list of chemicals of high concern include silicon carbide whiskers (Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number 409-21-2), carbon nanotubes, multi-walled MWCNT-7 (CAS Number 308068-56-6), and silicon carbide, fibrous (CAS Number 308076-74-6). MDH added these nanomaterials based on their International Agency for Research on Cancer...
On September 21, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) announced its regulatory determinations for a batch of Microbial Commercial Activity Notices (MCAN) and premanufacture notices (PMN). The announcement by EPA consisted of ten new microorganisms submitted as MCANs and seven new chemicals submitted as PMNs. All microorganisms and chemical substances were determined “not likely to present an unreasonable risk” (per...
September 28, 2016
ISO Publishes Standard for Compilation and Description of Sample Preparation and Dosing Methods for Engineered and Manufactured Nanomaterials
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published ISO/TR 16196:2016, “Nanotechnologies — Compilation and description of sample preparation and dosing methods for engineered and manufactured nanomaterials.” The goal of the standard is to assist scientists and experts to understand, plan, choose, and address issues relevant to nanomaterials before and during toxicological testing. The descriptions of sample preparation method factors for both in vitro and in...
The fourth Biocides Stakeholders’ Day took place on September 1, 2016, at the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) headquarters in Helsinki, Finland. The event provided biocides stakeholders with information on the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) and the tools and support available. The focus was on experiences from companies, ECHA, and the European Commission (EC). ECHA stated “[t]he objective was to equip companies with information about their roles and obligations to...