- ACI Supports Risk-Based, Timely Approach Grounded in Science
- TSCA Modernization Would Streamline New Chemical Review Process, Allow for More Innovation
The House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership has introduced legislation to reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to collect administrative fees for chemical reviews under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) while proposing additional new changes to the statute.
With TSCA changes top of mind in the House, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), the trade association for the U.S. cleaning product supply chain, advocates for targeted changes to TSCA that could drastically improve the review and approval of new chemistries for not only our members, but for cleaning product and ingredient manufacturers across the industry.
ACI encourages bipartisan support of a targeted legislative amendment that improves EPA’s ability to process Pre-Manufacture Notice (PMN) reviews consistently and predictably. This would improve ingredient suppliers and formulators’ ability to innovate and introduce new chemistries and products to American consumers.
“ACI and our member manufacturers appreciate the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s approach for not wholesale, but targeted changes for new and existing chemical reviews under TSCA” said Blake Nanney, ACI Director of Government Affairs. “Americans should have access to the most sustainable and innovative cleaning products in the world. Improving the law would help get these products and chemistries to market more quickly, keeping the American manufacturing competitive domestically and internationally, ultimately resulting in more choices and benefits for our U.S. consumers.”
TSCA defines how new and existing chemicals are regulated by EPA, which has jurisdiction over implementing the TSCA law by overseeing the chemical management process for both new and existing chemicals. According to the TSCA statute signed into law in 2016, EPA must review and decide on a PMN submission within 90 to 180 days. And while the bill was successfully signed into law with bipartisan support, the implementation has encountered challenges.
Manufacturers have experienced significant delays in EPA’s ability to process PMN reviews within the statutory timeline, leading to a backlog of pending new chemical reviews.
As negotiations continue among legislators, ACI continues to press Congress to make the necessary changes to instill more predictability and efficiency in the TSCA chemical management process particularly for new and existing chemical reviews under Section 5 and Section 6 of the law, respectively.
“ACI is a strong advocate for these reforms because innovation is critical for industry growth and better choices for American consumers and families,” said Nanney.
The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.