TSCA Reform Pending Senate Approval

A negotiated version of the TSCA reform bill (TSCA Modernization Act of 2015) was approved by the House of Representatives this Tuesday by a 403-12 vote. However, it was placed on hold this Thursday at the Senate; it was initially slated to be placed in front of the president this week.

The TSCA Modernization Act of 2015 was introduced in 2015 to give the EPA greater authority in regulating hazardous chemicals. It tasks the EPA with evaluating the risk of chemicals, and implementing management rules for those that pose unreasonable risks to human health and the environment. The EPA must also initiate 10 or more risk evaluations per year, and would have the power to require chemical testing for evaluation.  

Since parts of the initial 2015 bill have been amended, it has received both support and criticism from stakeholders and civil society; some believe the bill is too restrictive, while others argue that many of its initial underpinning were eliminated during negotiation.

As an update to the oldest U.S. legislation pertaining to toxic chemical management, this reform will have a significant impact on how chemical risk is perceived and managed. With stricter chemical requirements and the potential for chemicals to be restricted at any time, knowledge about chemicals used in the supply chain is imperative for proactive management. To learn more about how to manage potentially toxic substances in your supply chain, click here.