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Assessing and Managing Chemicals under TSCA

How EPA Assesses Chemical Safety

Overview

Please Note

On June 22, 2016, President Obama signed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which updates the Toxic Substances Control Act. EPA will update its web pages to conform to the provisions of the statute, but until then some content may be out of date. Learn more about the new law, find summary information and read frequently asked questions.

EPA is using a multi-pronged strategy to ensure the safety of chemicals in commerce, recognizing that the current chemicals management law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, needs to be strengthened.

EPA's three part strategy for addressing potential risks from existing chemicals includes:

  • Identifying chemicals for assessment and taking actions as appropriate;
  • Increasing opportunities for industry to move toward using safer chemicals; and
  • Increasing public access to data on chemicals that have been developed by EPA and/or provided by industry

In September 2009 EPA issued Essential Principles for Reform of Chemical Management Legislation to help inform efforts underway in Congress to reauthorize and significantly strengthen the effectiveness of TSCA.

The following graphic provides an overview of the process EPA uses to assess and manage TSCA chemicals in commerce.

Flowchart to assessing and managing chemicals under TSCA

Process for Assessing Chemical Safety

EPA's process for assessing chemical safety consists of:

  • Identifying Chemicals for Assessment
  • Assessing Risks from TSCA Chemicals
  • Reducing Risk from TSCA chemicals

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