EPA issues first testing mandate for existing chemicals under reformed TSCA

The US EPA has, for the first time under the amended TSCA, mandated companies to conduct testing in support of a risk evaluation for an existing chemical, according to chemicals office assistant administrator Alexandra Dunn. Speaking at ChemCon the Americas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania yesterday, Ms Dunn said that EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a TSCA section 4(a)(2) order pertaining to pigment violet – one of the first ten chemicals subject to TSCA risk evaluation – last week. This represents the first time the agency has used its expanded authority to order a company to conduct tests to fill data gaps, amid increasing pressure to do so in support of its work on existing chemicals. The order, not yet publicly released, was issued to two companies and will require them to generate data related to solubility testing and worker respiration dust monitoring.