September 9, 2016

Non-Profits Release Report On Improvements To The European Commission’s Bioenergy Policy

On September 5, 2016, a group of non-profits, including Oxfam International, Fern, and Greenpeace, published a report outlining policy measures that should be taken by the European Commission (EC) to ensure that bioenergy is as low-carbon and resource efficient as possible. The report, "A New EU Sustainable Bioenergy Policy Report," was published after EC stated a willingness to listen to new proposals to improve sustainable bioenergy policies. EC is planning on proposing an updated...
September 9, 2016

REMINDER — “‘The New TSCA’ — What You Need To Know” Webinar 3 — Inventory, CDR, And CBI (Sections

Monday, September 12, 2016 8:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time/11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time/16:00 British Summer Time Register Today Three months have passed since Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform was enacted and now implementation trends are starting to take shape. Rather than waiting to see what TSCA reform's impact on your business might be, take control of your approach to "new" TSCA with the information and insight shared in the "The New TSCA: What You Need To...
September 9, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? Plastics Industry, "100 Percent Compostable Single Serve Coffee Pod Wins International Innovation Award" ? Market Wired, "Seventh Generation Develops EPA Safer Choice Certified Laundry Detergent Packs Mission-Led Household and Personal Care Products Company Introduces New Line Of Solid Laundry Detergent Packs Formulated With Plant-Based Ingredients" ? Synthetic Genomics, "Synthetic Genomics Team Engineers Vmax™, an Advantaged Next-Generation Host Organism for a...
September 9, 2016

Florida House Members Request Emergency Authorization to Combat Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes with Oxitec

On September 6, 2016, 61 members of the Florida House of Representatives issued a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to urge them to:  (1) declare a public health emergency for the Zika virus; (2) grant Florida’s state and local governments access to Oxitec Ltd.’s (Oxitec) genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes that can suppress the local Aedes aegypti mosquito population; and (3) grant an Emergency...
September 7, 2016

EPA Issues Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticide Products to Combat Emerging Viral Pathogens

On September 2, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance to registrants on the process for making claims against emerging viral pathogens not on EPA-registered disinfectant labels (Guidance).  A draft of this guidance was issued in April 2016 and comments were sought at that time.  More information concerning the draft guidance is available in our blog item EPA Combats Emerging Pathogens Through Updating Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticide Products....
September 7, 2016

ACS and JHSPH Host Panel on Alternatives to Animal Testing

The American Chemical Society (ACS), together with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH) and Honorary Co-Hosts Representatives Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), through ACS’ Science & the Congress Project have announced that they will be hosting a panel on “Alternatives to Animal Testing:  Emerging Uses and Policy Implications” on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, from Noon - 1:30 p.m. on Capitol Hill at the Cannon House Office...
September 7, 2016

EPA Releases Additional Q&As on New TSCA

On September 2, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released additional guidance on its implementation of the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in the form of additional questions and answers (Q&A).  EPA added a series of Q&As of particular relevance given the fast-approaching TSCA Section 6(h) deadline of September 19, 2016, for industry to request a risk evaluation for persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals listed in the 2014 TSCA...
September 7, 2016

Chemical Watch Regulatory Summit Asia, September 7-8, 2016, Hong Kong

Chemical Watch's third annual Regulatory Summit Asia brings together experts from government, industry, and professional advisers to share special perspectives and understanding of global chemical regulatory challenges facing industry.  B&C Toxicologist J. Brian Xu, M.D., Ph.D., DABT® will present on U.S. regulatory developments, including the newly amended TSCA.
September 7, 2016

“The New TSCA” Webinar 3:  Inventory, CDR, and CBI (Sections 8 & 14)

REMINDER "'The New TSCA' -- What You Need To Know" Webinar 3: Inventory, CDR, And CBI (Sections 8 & 14) Monday, September 12, 20168:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time/11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time/16:00 British Summer Time Register Today Three months have passed since Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform was enacted and now implementation trends are starting to take shape. Rather than waiting to see what TSCA reform's impact on your business might be, take control of your...
September 6, 2016

Buyer Beware—That Mosquito Repellent May Not Have Been Tested For Efficacy

The threat of the Zika Virus grows every day, and the need for clear information is especially pressing if you are pregnant.  How do you prevent getting infected with the Zika Virus, and what insect repellents are best?  The first question is easy to answer:  public health experts agree that women who are pregnant or who might be pregnant should use insect repellents.  The answer to the second question is not so simple. I am a former senior official at the U.S. Environmental...