American Chemistry Council Calls for TSCA Overhaul
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) on Aug. 4 released its guidelines for modernizing the United States' chemical safety laws.
"The chemical industry is committed to the safety of our products. Current law is more than 30 years old and the law must be updated to keep pace with science," said Cal Dooley, president and chief executive officer. Dooley hosted a press briefing in Washington, D.C. where the council proposed 10 principles for effective chemicals management.
He was joined at the event by ACC member company executives and partner associations, including Mark Rohr of Albermarle Corporation, Dave Kepler of Dow, Tom Shepherd of The Shepherd Chemical Company, Chris Cathcart of the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), and Ernie Rosenbergof the Soap and Detergent Association.
"These 10 principles provide a roadmap needed to build a more effective chemical management system that ensures consumer safety while preserving America's role as the world's leading innovator and creator of safe and environmentally sound technologies and products. We look forward and are committed to working with Congress, the administration and all stakeholders toward enactment of effective legislation," Dooley said.
"Some might be surprised that we in the industry are supporting enhanced regulation. They shouldn't be. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars annually in testing and research and support a robust chemicals management system. High priority chemicals should be tested and evaluated under generally accepted scientific principles and the effort should be overseen by an Environmental Protection Agency that is provided adequate resources to do its job. It will give the public confidence in what we do," said Kepler.
Highlights of the principles include:
- Chemicals should be safe for their intended use.
- EPA should prioritize chemicals for safe use determinations to focus on chemicals of highest concern.
- The chemical industry should continue to provide robust information in a transparent manner on chemicals it produces.
- Potential risks faced by children should be an important factor in safe use determinations.
- Companies and EPA should work together to enhance public access to chemical health and safety information.
- EPA should rely on scientifically valid data and information and should have the resources it needs to ensure the safety of chemicals.
- A modernized Toxic Substances Control Act should encourage technological innovation.
For the full list of chemical management principles, visit
www.americanchemistry.com/tsca.