NEWS

Brown Signs Prop. 65 Bill on Certificates of Merit Into Law

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill into law that will increase the scrutiny on private parties bringing enforcement actions under Proposition 65. AB 1583, authored by Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), change the rules governing certificates of merit.

OEHHA Extends Comment Deadline for Chlorpyrifos Hazard Identification Materials

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has extended the deadline for submitting public comments on the hazard identification materials it has released as part of its proposed listing of the pesticide chlorpyrifos under Proposition 65.

DTSC Begins Work on Next Version of SCP Priority Product Work Plan

The Department of Toxic Substances Control is seeking comments on what product categories should be included in its 2018-2020 Priority Product Work Plan under the Department's Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program. The revised Work Plan is intended to describe the product categories that the Department will evaluate for possible identification as priority products during the next three years.

DTSC Will Hold Workshop to Discuss Designating Lead-Acid Batteries as a Priority Product

The Department of Toxic Substances Control will hold a workshop on to discuss the possibility of adding lead-acid batteries to the list of Priority Products under the Safer Consumer Products Program.

Bill Changing Rules on Prop. 65 Certificates of Merit Awaits Governor's Signature

A bill aimed at increasing the scrutiny on private parties bringing Proposition 65 enforcement actions has cleared the Legislature and is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature.

OEHHA Proposes Prop. 65 Listing and Safe Harbor Level for Vinylidene Chloride

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed listing vinylidene chloride under Proposition 65 and has simultaneously released a proposed safe harbor level for the chemical.

OEHHA Issues Revised and Additional Material for Proposed Chlorpyrifos and n-Hexane Listings

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has released an updated list of references for the chlorpyrifos hazard identification material (HIM) that its Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) will use as it considers whether to list the chemical under Proposition 65.

OEHHA to Weigh Listing Chlorpyrifos, N-Hexane and Coumarin under Prop. 65

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA's) Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) has proposed adding chlorpyrifos and n-hexane to the Proposition 65 list of regulated chemicals and its Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) has proposed adding coumarin.

Department of Pesticide Regulation Increases Scrutiny on Chlorpyrifos

In the wake of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to allow continued use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has signaled it may tighten regulation of the neurotoxic pesticide.

Food Companies Facing September 30 Deadline for Warnings on Furfuryl Alcohol

Intertek, a leading testing and quality assurance company, is alerting manufacturers of food products to a September 30 compliance deadline for placing warnings on any product containing furfuryl alcohol under California's Proposition 65.

EPA Finalizes TSCA Inventory Reset Rule

On August 11, 2017, U.S. EPA published the final version of its so-called "inventory reset" rule in the August 11, Federal Register under the recently enacted revision of the Toxic Substances Control Act.

EU On the Way to First Restrictions on Acrylamide in Food

The European Union has taken the first step in eventually ordering the reduction of the presence of the chemical acrylamide in foods. According to the internet media platform Euractive, representatives of the EU's 28 member states voted on July 19 in favor of a European Commission proposal to reduce the presence of the carcinogen normally found in fried or roasted foods, such as French fries, potato chips, bread, biscuits, or coffee.

EPA Says It Has Eliminated Excess Backlog Under TSCA New Chemical Review Program

In an August 8 press release U.S. EPA says that it has eliminated a backlog of pending reviews under the TSCA Section 5 program that existed at the time of the enactment of last year's revision of the Act.

OEHHA Proposes Safe Harbor Warning for Hotels

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is proposing a specific safe harbor Proposition 65 warning that would be used by hotels and other "transient" lodging establishment.

OEHHA Proposes Numerous Small Amendments to New Warning Regulations

Last August OEHHA completely rewrote its regulations governing what constitutes a "clear and reasonable warning" for exposure to a Proposition-65 carcinogen or reproductive toxicant.

OEHHA Proposes Background Levels for Arsenic in Rice

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed adding a new section to its Proposition 65 regulations to address natural background levels of chemicals in unprocessed foods and has started off the new process by announcing tentative levels for arsenic in rice.

Titanium Dioxide Could Be Identified as a Carcinogen

The risk assessment committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed that the white pigment titanium dioxide (TiO₂) be classified as a potential carcinogen through the inhalation route.

OEHHA Releases Public Comments on its Proposed Glyphosate Safe Harbor Level

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard (OEHHA) has posted the more than 1,300 public comments it received on its proposal to set a safe harbor level for glyphosate under Proposition 65—with the vast majority of comments coming from individuals and groups arguing that the agency's proposal is not protective of public health.

IARC’s Latest Classifications Could Lead to Two Proposition 65 Listings

Testing By Consumer Group Finds Continued Presence of BPA in Can Linings

The Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has released a report concluding that the controversial chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) is still widely present in can linings in the U.S.