Recently, Congress allocated approximately $17 million in EPA’s fiscal year 2025 budget to modernize outdated technical systems and accelerate chemical reviews which may help resolve ongoing concerns about the functionality and security of the agency’s Central Data Exchange (CDX), a key platform supporting the TSCA program (Sec. 1801(7) of H.R. 1968).
House Republicans have introduced a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify a rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) late in the prior administration. The rule narrowed the availability of expedited review pathways for certain new chemical substances—including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The resolution, H.J.Res.76, introduced by Reps. Clay Higgins (R-LA) and William Timmons (R-SC), seeks to nullify EPA’s December 2024 rulemaking, Updates to New Chemicals Regulations Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (89 Fed. Reg. 102773).
On September 30, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice seeking comment on the manufacture of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during the fluorination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is used to produce plastic containers used for various household consumer, commercial and industrial products. The notice marks the latest step in EPA’s attempt to regulate plastic fluorination and potential concurrent PFAS contamination under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
On September 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cut industry a significant break by postponing the reporting period for the one-time reporting rule for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by eight months. Originally, the TSCA Rule established a reporting period that would begin on November 12, 2024, and, for most companies,1 end on May 8, 2025. These deadlines have now been pushed out to July 11, 2025, and January 11, 2026, respectively.
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has been regulating new and existing chemicals for almost 50 years. Under the TSCA, the EPA was given broad authority to track the thousands of existing commercial chemicals and regulate any new chemicals before they enter the market.
The TSCA requires manufacturers that intend to use a chemical that is designated as a “significant new use” to notify the EPA at least 90 days before they manufacture, import or process the chemical for that use, i.e., the “significant new use rule” (SNUR). This pre-manufacture notice requirement gives the EPA the opportunity to evaluate the potential use and, if necessary, to place restrictions on the chemical or prohibit its use to manage any risks before they can occur.
PFAS Observer