SC Johnson Approves of TSCA Reform Efforts

With movement on a key bill impacting the household and personal care industry, several stakeholders voiced their support or their concerns over the measure. For example, SC Johnson applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's approval of draft legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), calling it the result of strong, bipartisan cooperation among the members of the Committee.


“As a vocal supporter of better regulation, we are pleased to see lawmakers reach across the aisle in an effort to update this outdated law and address its major flaws,” SC Johnson said in a statement.


According to SC Johnson and industry observers, the amended bill represents a number of compromises made by Senators Udall and Vitter to mitigate concerns raised by committee members and stakeholders, and is an important step forward in providing consumers with added confidence in the products that they use in their homes.


SC Johnson said it looks forward to continued cooperation with the Environment and Public Works committee members on legislation that best serves the public's interest and protects consumers.


Meanwhile, the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) also commended the markup of the TSCA Reform Bill.


“The Senate EPW Committee's markup today of the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21^stCentury Act is an important step in modernizing the way we assess the safety of chemicals,” said National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) President Eric R. Byer. “After decades of operating under a poorly written law, the vast majority of industry stakeholders agree: TSCA is not working. Members of both parties worked tirelessly to produce language that improves the process for evaluating chemicals without placing unfair burdens on industry.


“Even though there are a few steps remaining in the legislative process, we are hopeful the provisions of the bill will enhance safety while maintaining America's ability to compete in today's global marketplace. NACD thanks Senators Vitter and Udall for their hard work and willingness to work across party lines to craft legislation that brings about much-needed TSCA reform.”


According to Daniel Rosenberg, senior attorney in the Health and Environment Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, the committee approval of the bill represents a step forward, but more work remains.


“The action should lock in place the significant improvements in the bill that resulted from the tenacious efforts of Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ),” said Rosenberg. “NRDC will continue to work to improve the bill as it moves through the legislative process, including by eliminating the remaining rollbacks from current law, increasing public health protections and further ensuring that no EPA could use the bill to weaken chemical safety.  The committee today unfortunately rejected several amendments that would have addressed many of these concerns.


“The latest version of the bill includes numerous changes that have been sought by NRDC and our coalition partners to better protect health and the environment, and we will continue to talk to anyone interested in making progress on this bill. We also want to thank Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for her stalwart opposition to the bill as originally introduced, which would have been a giant step backward; Ed Markey (D-MA) for his work to improve the bill; and Tom Udall (D-NM) for his willingness to remain at the negotiating table.”