Chemical Engineering Trends, Intellectual Property Litigation, & Industry Predictions – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 50
What to Expect in Chemicals Policy and Regulation and on Capitol Hill in 2023
On July 9, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew significant new use rules (SNURs) proposed under Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 18 chemicals derived from waste plastic...more
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced on August 14, 2025, a WatchBlog item entitled “EPA’s New Chemicals Program Could Improve Safety If Better Managed” that examines GAO’s January 2025 report on the U.S....more
If your business manufactures, distributes or supplies consumer products sold in California, you are likely familiar with California Proposition 65, which requires warnings on products that may expose consumers to chemicals...more
PFAS are a chemically diverse family of over 10,000 synthetic fluorinated compounds, all containing at least one carbon-fluorine (C–F) bond. This makes them highly persistent and earns them the nickname "forever chemicals."...more
On August 4, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a notice of determinations that modifies the list of taxable substances to include the following 21 substances: polyphenylene sulfide, cellulose acetate (degree...more
Brazilian Federal Law No. 15.022/2024 was enacted in November 2024. The law is also known as the "Chemical Substances Registration Act" or as the "Brazilian REACH". The law establishes rules for creating a National Inventory...more
On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a request for public comment on the potential regulation of perchloroethylene (PCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). PCE is a widely used...more
The European Commission (EC) released on July 7, 2025, a Chemicals Industry Action Plan (Action Plan) to strengthen the competitiveness and modernization of the European Union’s (EU) chemical sector. According to the EC, the...more
The Trump Administration has allocated no money to fund the Chemical Safety Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) for fiscal year 2026, directing the agency to use its emergency funds to shutter its doors by the end of fiscal year...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on July 28, 2025, the release of a memorandum with additional context on occupational exposure data for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). According to EPA, the...more
Starting on Jan. 3, 2026, warning requirements for vinyl acetate can be enforced under California’s Proposition 65, which is commonly referred to as “Prop 65.” The California agency charged with implementing Prop 65, the...more
This week, I sat down with Lisa R. Burchi, Of Counsel to Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and resident expert on Proposition 65, among many other chemical laws. Lisa explains why businesses doing business in California need to know...more
A report arguing for raising taxes on alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, a law requiring labels to disclose if an animal was harmed during production, a lawsuit calling grain alcohol "inherently dangerous," and more. It...more
On 17 July 2025, a bipartisan bill aimed at uncovering the potential human health implications of exposures to microplastics in the food and water supply was introduced into Congress. Introduced by Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR),...more
TSCA/FIFRA/TRI - EPA Appoints Former ASA Government Affairs Director As OCSPP DAA For Pesticides: Mr. Kyle Kunkler has been appointed the Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) for Pesticides at the U.S. Environmental...more
California Proposition 65 (formally the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) (“Prop. 65”) enforcement is hot—and this time, the spotlight is on Bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical often used in thermal receipt...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on July 21, 2025, that it is adding 18 chemicals to the Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL), “supporting Administrator Zeldin’s commitment to transparency,...more
In the three months since our previous post about major California businesses being targeted with a Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) Notice of Violation (“NOV”) for allegedly exposing California customers to Bisphenol S (BPS) in...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and Gallade Chemical, Inc. (“GCI”) entered into a July 11th Expedited Settlement Agreement (“ESA”) addressing alleged violations of the regulations implementing...more
Grants a two-year exemption from compliance with the EPA’s HON Rule for 25 specified chemical manufacturing facilities. Extends implementation of new hazardous air pollutant standards under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act,...more
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) began a public consultation on July 14, 2025, on its proposals to extend the UK REACH transitional registration submission deadlines. UK...more
On 8 July 2025, the European Commission presented its European Chemicals Industry Action Plan. The Action Plan aims to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the European chemical sector while driving the transition...more
Do you want to destroy PFAS? But why stop there? Continue on to convert them into high value fluorochemicals, and recover and reuse the phosphate salts. That’s what one new study claims it can do....more
After October 31, 2026, the distribution in commerce of articles containing PIP (3:1) will be prohibited. Affected companies must phase out the production of PIP (3:1) articles and sell or otherwise remove current inventory....more
As reported in our May 14, 2025, blog item, on May 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition filed under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) seeking to prohibit the use of...more