Archives

June 16, 2025

Recent Federal Developments for June 2025

Register Now For “TSCA Reform – Nine Years Later” Virtual Conference, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (EDT), June 25, 2025: Complimentary registration is now open for this dynamic virtual conference providing updates and insights regarding the current state of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) implementation, ongoing and emerging issues, and related developments. As with our previous TSCA anniversary events, a stellar faculty of speakers from government, non-governmental organizations, industry,...
April 16, 2025

Lynn L. Bergeson, “Rethinking Environmental Governance: The Age of Deregulation?,” Chemical Processing, April 16, 2025.

Candidate Trump promised to roll back regulations when he ran for president last campaign cycle. He has claimed deregulation was a hallmark of his first term and that his second term would be even more “deregulatory.” Experts will disagree on whether any one president succeeds in reducing the federal regulatory burden. What we do know is that Trump 2.0 has taken early and aggressive deregulatory measures expected to significantly impact many sectors of the U.S. economy. 
October 28, 2020

TURI Calls for Information on Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanofibers

According to the Toxics Use Reduction Institute’s (TURI) website, the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) Program in Massachusetts has received a petition to list carbon nanotubes (both single-walled and multi-walled) and carbon nanofibers.  The TURA Science Advisory Board (SAB) is beginning the process of reviewing these substances and seeks additional information from stakeholders.  SAB’s primary role is to consider petitions to add or delete chemicals from the TURA list and...
August 9, 2019

Pace Environmental Law Review Issues Call for Papers

The Pace Environmental Law Review (PELR) will publish a themed issue this winter concerning issues in the development and regulation of nanotechnology and biotechnology. Articles or essays should discuss the intersection between nanotechnology and/or biotechnology and environmental issues. PELR encourages submitters to take an interdisciplinary approach to nanotechnology and/or biotechnology from legal and other perspectives, including technology, science, public health, economics, or...
May 31, 2017

CIELAP Releases Discussion Paper on a Nanotechnology Policy Framework

On May 30, 2007, the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) released a document entitled Discussion Paper on a Policy Framework for Nanotechnology, which builds on policy issues discussed at a March 16, 2007, workshop. CIELAP states that it supports a goal statement and context for nanotechnology policy that is centered on an explicit recognition and endorsement of sustainable development.  According to CIELAP, the policy challenges for nanotechnology are...
September 30, 2015

EPA Releases Final Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Applied to MWCNTs in Flame-Retardant Coatings in Upholstery Textiles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted on September 30, 2013, a final report entitled Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Applied to Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Flame-Retardant Coatings in Upholstery Textiles: A Case Study Presenting Priority Research Gaps for Future Risk Assessments. The final report presents a case study of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) used in flame-retardant coatings applied to upholstery textiles. EPA states that the case study is organized...
April 6, 2015

Comments Due July 6 on Proposed Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Nanoscale Materials

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) proposed rule concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when manufactured or processed at the nanoscale was published in the April 6, 2015, Federal Register.  EPA proposes to require persons that manufacture or process these chemical substances to report electronically to EPA certain information, including the specific chemical identity, production...
March 27, 2015

USDA NOP Releases New Policy Memo on Nanotechnology

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) issued on March 24, 2015, a policy memorandum clarifying the status of nanotechnology in organic production and handling under the USDA organic regulations.  The memorandum states that NOP has received questions about the use of nanotechnology.  The memorandum uses the term “engineered nanomaterials” to refer to substances specifically designed and manufactured to have unique properties or behavior attributable to...
March 26, 2015

EPA Issues Response to ICTA Petition Regarding Nanosilver

Almost seven years ago, the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) filed a petition for rulemaking requesting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate products containing nanosilver as pesticides and for related other forms of relief.  On March 19, 2015, EPA responded to the petition.  In general, the response does not alter EPA’s legal position with regard to nanosilver and its regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and...
March 25, 2015

EPA Proposes Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Nanoscale Materials

On March 25, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a prepublication version of a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) proposed rule concerning reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when manufactured (including imported) or processed at the nanoscale. EPA proposes to require persons that manufacture or process these chemical substances to report electronically to EPA certain information, including the specific chemical...
March 24, 2015

French Agency Publishes Opinion on Silver Nanoparticles

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) published on March 10, 2015, an Opinion concerning exposure to silver nanoparticles that “stresses the research that has been carried out to examine the potential health and environmental effects of silver nanoparticles but notes that this is still insufficient to allow the health risks to be assessed.” ANSES states that, based on the conclusions of its April 2014 Opinion on the risks associated with...
March 20, 2015

ACS Nano Publishes Article on Nanomaterial Categorization for Assessing Risk Potential

ACS Nano, published by the American Chemical Society (ACS), has posted an article entitled “Nanomaterial Categorization for Assessing Risk Potential to Facilitate Regulatory Decision-Making.”  The abstract of the article, which is co-authored by Lynn L. Bergeson, states: For nanotechnology to meet its potential as a game-changing and sustainable technology, it is important to ensure that the engineered nanomaterials and nanoenabled products that gain entry to the marketplace are safe...
March 19, 2015

NNI Publishes Supplement to President’s 2016 Budget

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) published on March 11, 2015, its supplement to the President’s 2016 budget submitted to Congress.  NNI states that the supplement serves as the NNI annual report.  According to the annual report, in 2014, federal agencies invested $1.57 billion in nanotechnology-related activities.  The President’s 2016 request calls for an investment of $1.50 billion, which the report states “affirm[s] the Administration’s continuing...
March 13, 2015

Danish EPA Publishes Number of Reports Concerning Nanomaterials

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published on March 6, 2015, the following reports concerning nanomaterials: Survey of products with nanosized pigments — Focusing on products exempt from the Danish Nanoproduct Register:  The main focus of the study is on paints, wood preservatives, glues, and fillers, as well as on colored textiles.  According to the Danish EPA, the survey contributes to the overview of consumer products with nanomaterials on the Danish market and is...
March 4, 2015

Canada Seeks Comment on Proposed Approach to Address Nanoscale Substances on the DSL

Environment Canada and Health Canada have released a February 2015 consultation document entitled Proposed Approach to Address Nanoscale Forms of Substances on the Domestic Substances List.  Environment Canada and Health Canada propose a stepwise approach to address nanoscale forms of substances on the Domestic Substances List (DSL): Establishment of a list of existing nanomaterials in Canada; Prioritization of existing nanomaterials for action; and Action on substances identified for...
February 12, 2015

ACGIH® TLV®-CS Committee Studying Nanoscale Primary Particle Notation

On January 30, 2015, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) announced the under study list for its Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances (TLV®-CS) Committee.  The under study list includes, under other issues under study, “nanoscale primary particle notation.”  According to ACGIH®, the under study list serves as “notification and invitation to interested parties to submit substantive data and comments to assist the...
February 6, 2015

EFSA Scientific Network of Risk Assessment of Nanotechnologies in Food and Feed Publishes 2014 Annual Report

On February 16, 2015, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the 2014 annual report of the EFSA Scientific Network of Risk Assessment of Nanotechnologies in Food and Feed, which is intended to inform the public and the EFSA Advisory Forum about the Network’s specific activities and achievements.  EFSA states that, during 2014, the Network followed-up on its priority areas and contributed to making inventories of applications of nanomaterials already present in the food/feed...
February 6, 2015

CPSC’s FY 2016 Budget Request Would Create Center for Consumer Product Applications and Safety Implications of Nanotechnology

The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget request includes funding to establish a Center for Consumer Product Applications and Safety Implications of Nanotechnology (CPASION), which is intended “to develop robust methods in identifying and characterizing nanomaterials in consumer products; to understand their effects on human exposure; and to develop scientists to advance nanomaterials in consumer product safety research.”  CPSC recommends a $5 million...
February 4, 2015

EPA Promulgates SNUR for Polymer of Terephthalic Acid and Ethyl Benzene with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (Generic)

On February 2, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated through a direct final rule significant new use rules (SNURs) for 27 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs).  The substances include polymer of terephthalic acid and ethyl benzene with multi-walled carbon nanotube (generic) (PMN Number P-13-573), which is subject to a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5(e) consent order.  The consent order requires the following...