Chemical Regulation Overhaul May Hit Roadblock

According to a recent article published by Chemical & Engineering News, the shift in power in the House of Representatives from Democrat to Republican will greatly impact proposed chemical regulations and reform. Along with clean air and climate change regulations, the belief is that the TSCA reform will not be a high priority in the upcoming year. One Republican, Rep. Joseph L Barton (R-Texas), who is making a bid to head the House Energy and Commerce Committee, was quoted as saying that TSCA is “working well” in its current format. The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) and the American Chemistry Council responded by stating that they will continue to meet with legislators in the hope of convincing them to introduce the revised TSCA regulations in 2011.

Saying that TSCA is “working well” has been argued against by both non-profit groups and the chemical industry. The numerous hearings during 2009 provide support that revisions to 34-year old TSCA should be considered a priority and should not be delayed. As chemical regulations in the European Union and Canada continue to change and modernize with the advancement of science and technology, the United States runs the risk of falling behind in scope and relevancy. In addition, individual states, such as California, are developing their own regulatory initiatives which could result in a patchwork of regulations across the United States and cause enormous difficulties with compliance for industries with nationwide production and distribution.