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TSCA Section 5 Significant New Use Rules
Announcements
October 21, 2011 -- EPA issued several actions under TSCA addressing 60 high production volume (HPV) chemicals:
- Final rule that requires manufacturers to test the health and environmental effects of 15 high production volume (HPV) chemicals.
- Proposal that would require manufacturers to test the health and environmental effects of 23 HPV chemicals
- Proposal that would require companies to notify EPA prior to new uses of an additional 22 chemicals that are widely used in commerce.
Section 5(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) authorizes EPA to determine if a use of a chemical substance is a “significant new use.” EPA must make this determination by rule after considering all relevant factors, including those listed in TSCA section 5(a)(2):
- The projected volume of manufacturing and processing of a chemical substance.
- The extent to which a use changes the type or form of exposure of humans or the environment to a chemical substance.
- The extent to which a use increases the magnitude and duration of exposure of humans or the environment to a chemical substance.
- The reasonably anticipated manner and methods of manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, and disposal of a chemical substance.
Once EPA determines that a use of a chemical substance is a significant new use, TSCA section 5(a) requires persons to submit a significant new use notice (SNUN) to EPA at least 90 days before they manufacture, import, or process the chemical substance for that use.
This provides EPA with an opportunity to review and evaluate the data before the submitter begins manufacturing, importing, or processing for the significant new use. EPA may then regulate the manufacture, import, or processing of that chemical substance before the initiation of the significant new use, if regulation is warranted.
EPA also uses significant new use rules (SNURs) in appropriate circumstances to ensure that, once a chemical has been phased out or taken off the market for certain uses, no company will be able to resume manufacturing or processing the chemical for that use without prior notice to the Agency. These are sometimes referred to as “dead chemical SNURs.” This action can prevent older chemical substances that we now know to be dangerous from returning to the market after responsible companies have replaced them with safer substances.
Examples of recent existing chemical substance SNURs include EPA’s:
