Toxic Substances Control Act: A Chemical Regulation Makeover

When you hear the phrase, “chemical reform” or “regulatory update”, you may begin to yawn a little bit. And while this topic is admittedly somewhat dry, we want to share important progress that is being made in regulating chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act—which was long overdue.

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was recently amended on June 22nd, 2016 to update how we evaluate potentially unsafe chemicals in the United States. Since 1976, when the law was originally passed, it has continually been under the microscope for letting untested chemicals into the marketplace. As a result, many felt it wasn’t adequately protecting people from hazardous chemicals.

While the newly amended law will allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to test for the risks of toxic chemicals—a big step in the right direction—it’s still not enough. Some have said it is a process that is too slow and has limitations.  In a recent article by Zach Bernstein, Research Manager for the American Sustainable Business Council, he outlines how the legislation falls short.

Bernstein highlights that “real reform needs to include three main principles: transparency; safety; and innovation.” It’s apparent these principles are still lacking from the TSCA.  However, we are proud to say that hasn’t stopped us from going beyond the current standard.

We want to take away the guessing game when choosing a product. Because being transparent in the way we innovate with our Principles of Conscious Chemistry is a choice, and we want to make your choice easy.