New Toxic Substance Law Will Hit Many Companies

Environmentalists and public health advocates have long criticized the U.S. regulatory regime for allowing chemicals to enter the economy without being tested, Tens of thousands have come into use, while the number being adequately tested is said to be in the hundreds. With the passage this month of a bipartisan amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – known as the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act – that should no longer be the case. “EPA will now be required to review the safety of every chemical in commerce,” explains an update from Sidley & Austin. “Because of the vastly changed TSCA landscape, it is important that all companies that manufacture, use, process, import, export or sell products containing chemicals become familiar with the new regulatory regime.”