NEWS

Appellate Court Faults EPA for Failure to Require Full Substantiation of TSCA CBI Claims

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has ruled that U.S. EPA improperly dropped a question asking companies asserting a Confidential Business Information (CBI) claim for a chemical formula whether the formula could be discovered by "reverse engineering."

EPA Proposes Rule for Substantiating CBI Claims for Active Chemicals

On April 23, U.S. EPA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register requiring companies making confidential business information (CBI) claims for chemicals on the TSCA "active" list to substantiate their claims.

EPA Touts Latest Update of Chemical Database

U.S. EPA has announced the latest version of what it calls its CompTox Chemicals Dashboard. The latest version (Version 3.0.8) adds 110,000 chemicals and associated data to the existing Dashboard.

OEHHA Releases Fact Sheet on Pesticide Carbaryl

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has published a fact sheet on the Proposition 65-listed pesticide carbaryl.

Third Jury Verdict in Roundup Litigation Escalates Pressure on Bayer

An Alameda County Superior Court jury has ordered Monsanto to pay just over $2 billion to a Livermore couple who both have cancer they claim was caused by exposure to the company's Roundup herbicide.

AG Announces Settlements With Distributors Selling Tainted Jewelry And Support For Stronger Legislation

Attorney General Xavier Becerra has announced that his office has reached settlements with five distributors of jewelry for violating lead and cadmium content limits contained in California's Metal Containing Jewelry Law (Jewelry Law).

California Moves to End Use of Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has announced it will ban the neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos in the state within two years.

SPF System Manufacturers Start Notifying DTSC After Last Attempt to Block SCP Identification Fails

Three manufacturers of Spray Polyurethane Foam Systems With Unreacted Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanates (SPF Systems) have notified the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) that they sell their products in California.

DTSC Clarifies Obligations of Methylene Chloride Paint Remover Manufacturers After EPA TSCA Rulemaking

On January 1, 2019 the Department of Toxic Substances Control identified paint and varnish removers containing methylene chloride as a Priority Product under the Department's Safer Consumer Product (SCP) program.

Green Chemistry Reform Bill Moves Ahead Despite Industry Opposition

Legislation that would substantially rewrite California Safer Consumer Products Act has easily cleared two policy committees in the State Senate, despite substantial opposition from industry representatives.

Chamber Job Killer Designation Stalls AB 495 Banning Some Cosmetics, While SB 574 Moves Forward

The California Chamber of Commerce is claiming credit for stalling proposed legislation that would effectively ban the sale of cosmetic products containing certain chemicals.

9th Circuit Gives EPA 90 Days to Respond to Request to Ban Chlorpyrifos

An en banc panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has eased a prior court order calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately ban the neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos.

OEHHA Issues Prop. 65 Fact Sheet on Styrene

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has released a new fact sheet on styrene—a carcinogen listed under Proposition 65 in 2016.

Sportfishing Group Touts Prop. 65 Opt-In Settlement Over Fishing Lures

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) has negotiated a settlement of potential Proposition 65 claims against manufacturers or sellers of certain plastic fishing lures.

EPA Initiates Prioritization Process for Forty Chemicals

U.S. EPA has identified forty chemicals that it has tentatively identified as either "high priority" or "low priority" pursuant to TSCA. The agency will now screen the designated chemicals and first make a formal designation proposal followed by a final status determination by the end of this year.

OEHHA Sets Draft Cancer Risk Guidelines for Cobalt

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has released draft guidelines for calculating the cancer risk posed by inhaling cobalt and cobalt compounds.

OEHHA Proposes Updated Public Health Goal for Pesticide DBCP

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has issued a proposed update to its drinking water public health goal for 1-2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP).

Bill Would Prohibit Numerous Chemicals in Cosmetics

Legislation that would ban the use of more than a dozen carcinogens, reproductive toxicants and endocrine disrupting chemicals is cosmetics in California has been introduced by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance).

OEHHA Finalizes Prop. 65 Warning Language for Residential Rental Properties

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has finalized language that can be used by landlords to give Proposition 65 warnings to their tenants. The new regulation containing the language will become effective on July 1, 2019.

OEHHA Begins Consideration of Applying Prop. 65 to Acetaminophen and Cannabis Products

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has issued a data call-in for acetaminophen and cannabis and cannabis products.