Bill Chameides is the Dean of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. In a recent article which appeared in The Huffington Post entitled, “The Toxic Substances Control Act’s Toxic Baddies,” he may be making a prediction of chemical labeling compliance and enforcement demands to come.

At the core of his feature is the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which he notes …gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate the manufacture, use, distribution in commerce, and disposal of chemical substances. The regulations can range from labeling and testing requirements to specific restrictions on their production and use.

But as Dean Chameides goes on to note: Of the some 80,000 chemicals manufactured and used in the United States, EPA has issued regulations to control just five “existing” and four “new” chemicals under TSCA’s unreasonable risk authority...

His story goes on to explore the toxicity of the nine named chemicals. It does not mention the other 79,991 and/or what may happen under EPA guidance to change or control the labeling of these. However, I have a hunch that many, many more chemical substances in the U.S. under EPA authority can expect to get new labeling compliance requirements. In fact, I would submit that one merely has to look toward Europe to see what is evolving under REACH and CLP to know the future of chemical safety, management, and labeling in the U.S.

All of that, of course, suggests that now is the time to make sure you have a product labeling system that today, and tomorrow, can meet compliance standards. For support with that, label us ready.

You can see Bill Chameides’ full article at this link.