06.22.23
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has created a new tool tracking the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) progress in new chemicals reviews under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
ACC designed the tool to track the lagging progress of EPA’s New Chemicals Program. Updated monthly using EPA public data sources, the tool provides a transparent overview of the total number of new chemicals undergoing TSCA review; the number of new chemicals reviewed within the TSCA-mandated 90-day deadline; and those new chemical reviews exceeding 90 days. ACC’s TSCA new chemicals tool also includes data and findings on premanufacture notices (PMNs) and TSCA Section 5 LVE and LoREX exemptions.
“New chemistries introduced in the United States continue to face regulatory barriers and uncertainty,” said ACC President & CEO Chris Jahn. “ACC’s new tool helps demonstrate the lack of progress EPA is making in conducting timely reviews. These challenges and delays are harming the U.S. economy and hindering American innovation and competitiveness in the global market, particularly against countries like China.”
ACC’s new tool features several interactive visualizations and analysis highlighting the overall number of new chemicals under TSCA review, premanufacture notices (PMNs) and TSCA Section 5 exemptions.
ACC’s new chemicals analysis and visualizations currently show there are a total of 397 new chemicals currently undergoing TSCA review, 36 have been under review for less than 90 days. The other 361 chemicals remaining in EPA’s review process have been under review for more than 90 days, the backlog.
Since January 2021, 91% of new chemical submissions are backlogged in the EPA’s new chemicals review process beyond the TSCA-mandated three-month review period.
“In order for the US to innovate and be a global leader, EPA needs to get the job done right, and on time. EPA’s uncertainty and delays in chemical reviews could have an impact on key Biden administration priorities, including implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the CHIPS Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Jahn. “We want this tool to encourage more accountability and increased transparency in new chemical reviews.”
On June 13, ACC released a new report offering seven chemical management approaches EPA should consider to enhancing U.S. supply chain resiliency and the onshoring of American manufacturing through TSCA implementation. The report includes recommendations on TSCA new and existing chemicals review processes.