October 10, 2023

EPA OPP Work Group Reconsidering 100-nm Threshold for Nanomaterials

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. understands that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has formed a work group to review data and information related to whether the current 100-nanometer (nm) threshold for determining whether a substance is a nanomaterial should be reviewed. Our May 10, 2022, blog item reported on a May 2022 news item published by EPA, “Advancing EPA’s Understanding of the Next Generation of Pesticides.” According to the item,...
October 10, 2023

EPA Releases Final Guidance for New Pesticide Applications and Registration Review Activities That Require Endangered Species Act Reviews

On September 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of final guidance to improve the efficiency of EPA’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) analyses for new pesticide active ingredient applications and active ingredients undergoing registration review. EPA states this guidance fulfills requirements outlined in the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 (PRIA 5) and furthers goals outlined in EPA’s 2022 ESA Workplan to protect listed species from...
October 10, 2023

ACI Recognizes “Early Adopters” of Sustainable Feedstocks Initiative

On September 18, 2023, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) recognized member companies that have been “early adopters” of its Sustainable Feedstocks Initiative, “aimed to drive the use of more sustainable feedstocks in cleaning product ingredients and products throughout the industry.” ACI states that the initiative focused on the top raw materials used in cleaning products. For the purposes of this initiative, ACI defines a sustainable feedstock as “a raw or recycled material...
October 10, 2023

EPA Will Launch New Substantiation Functionality in TSCA Applications in CDX

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on October 6, 2023, that it is deploying application updates, supporting new requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Confidential Business Information (CBI) Procedural Rule, within its electronic reporting site Central Data Exchange (CDX). EPA states that the deployments will update the applications requiring CBI substantiations to be provided within the application instead of requiring substantiation documents/templates...
October 6, 2023

CRS Report on Gene-Edited Plants Includes Issues Facing Congress

On September 7, 2023, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a report entitled Gene-Edited Plants: Regulation and Issues for Congress. The report notes that the U.S. regulation and oversight of gene editing in plants is facilitated by the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology, which involves the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Established in 1986 by the White House...
October 6, 2023

EPA Announces 2023 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award Winners

On October 2, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 30 Safer Choice Partner of the Year award winners, recognizing their achievements in the design, manufacture, and the selection and use of cleaners, detergents, and other products with safer chemicals. EPA states that the Safer Choice program helps consumers and purchasers of facilities, such as schools and office buildings, find cleaning and other products containing chemical ingredients that are safer alternatives for...
October 5, 2023

CRS Overview of Cell-Cultivated Meat Includes Policy Considerations for Congress

On September 19, 2023, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a report providing an overview of cell-cultivated meat. The report provides an overview of the science of cell-cultivated meat, the industry, the regulatory framework for cell-cultivated meat products, congressional interests, and potential policy considerations. CRS states that cell-cultivated meat is developed in a lab, grown from a sample of animal cells that does not require the slaughter of animals. Developing...
October 5, 2023

Minnesota Requests Comments on Planned New Rules Governing PFAS in Products Reporting and PFAS in Products Fees

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) published two Requests for Comments (RFC) on two planned per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) rulemakings in the September 25, 2023, State Register, the PFAS in Products Reporting Rule (Revisor ID Number R-4828) and the PFAS in Products Fees Rule (Revisor ID Number R-4827). Comments on the RFCs are due by 4:30 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday, November 28, 2023....
October 4, 2023

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. and Catherine M. Croke, DBA to Present During Chemical Watch’s “TSCA Fundamentals” Course

Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11, 2023, via webinar Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and The Acta Group (Acta®) are pleased to announce that Director of Chemistry, Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., and Director of Product Stewardship and Regulatory Affairs, Catherine M. Croke, DBA, will join Chemical Watch to present TSCA Fundamentals. This two-day course will offer in-depth training on the very latest Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulatory...