In a press release published on March 25, 2015 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it had proposed reporting and record keeping requirements on nanomaterials in the marketplace. At the moment, EPA reviews new chemical substances manufactured or processed as nanomaterials before they enter the marketplace to ensure that they are safe. For the first time, EPA is proposing to use the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to collect existing exposure and health and safety information on nano-sized versions of chemicals that are already in the marketplace. The companies shall notify EPA of various information regarding each chemical including specific chemical identity, production volume, methods of manufacture, processing, use, exposure, and release information as well as available health and safety data. EPA stresses that the proposal does not intend to conclude that nanomaterials will cause harm to human health or the environment. Instead, EPA wants to use the information gathered to determine if any further action under TSCA, including additional data collection, is required. The agency is requesting public comment on the proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements 90 days from publication in the Federal Register.
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U.S. EPA (March 25, 2015). “EPA proposes reporting and record keeping requirements on nanoscale materials in the marketplace/for the first time the agency will use TSCA authority to collect health and safety information on nanoscale chemicals already in use.”
