Manufacturers Ask EPA for Consistent New Chemical Reviews

The Environmental Protection Agency must be more consistent and transparent in deciding whether new chemicals can be sold in the U.S., attorneys and scientists working for chemical manufacturers said.

Industry officials speaking at the American Chemistry Council’s Global Chemical Regulations Conference on Tuesday suggested a number of ways EPA’s new chemicals division could improve its process for reviewing potential use restrictions ahead of a planned agency meeting on the topic this month.

“The new chemicals program is the life blood of everything we do,” said Robert Helminiak, a vice president at the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), which ...