Legislative and Regulatory Authority for Chemical Data Reporting
Rule summary
TSCA Section 8(a) gives EPA the broad authority to require, by rulemaking, manufacturers (includes importers) and processors of chemical substances to maintain records and/or report such data as EPA may reasonably require to carry out the TSCA mandates.
Examples of information that can be required to be reported include:
- Chemical or mixture identity
- Categories of use
- Quantity manufactured or processed
- By-product description
- Health and environmental effects information
- Number of individuals exposed
- Method(s) of disposal
Rule history
In 1977, the EPA promulgated a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 8(a), 15 U.S.C. 2607(a), to compile and keep current an inventory of chemical substances in commerce in the United States. This inventory is called the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory).
Additional resources
Regulations to amend and update the inventory were issued in:
- Amended regulations 1986
- Amended regulations 2003
- Update reporting revisions 2005
- Reporting modifications 2011
These regulations address the range of chemicals and plant sites reporting, the type of data reported, and the production volume threshold, and made other adjustments.