ACI Demands Coordination of Green Chemistry Guidelines

There is no apparent coordination between California agencies that are charged with publishing rules affecting chemicals in commerce, which would result in confusion among stakeholders and the public and likely duplication of efforts, according to the American Cleaning Institute (formerly The Soap and Detergent Association).

In a Feb. 15, 2011 commentary to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), ACI offered detailed suggestions on the agency’s proposed regulations that would create a toxics information clearinghouse.

ACI said that OEHHA should coordinate with the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), which is charged with issuing rules to create “Safer Consumer Product Alternatives” regulations under the state’s Green Chemistry Initiative.

ACI also questioned OEHHA’s definitions of chemical “hazard traits,” saying there is confusion about these traits throughout the entire package of proposed regulations. Similarly, language attempting to classify certain chemicals’ particular hazard traits are is “unnecessary, unauthorized and in some cases duplicative.”

In separate commentary, the Green Chemistry Alliance (which counts ACI as a member) expressed concern over the breadth and direction of the proposed regulation for green chemistry hazard traits.