Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency withdrew draft chemical regulations, including a directive which would have listed bisphenol A, a synthetic compound also known as BPA, on a "chemicals of concern" list, according to Law360 (subscription required). Companies involved in the manufacture, distribution, or sale of chemicals or products containing chemicals will want to note the agency's action.
"One of the EPA's draft rules would have listed BPA and eight flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, as posing an 'unreasonable risk to human health and/or the environment.' The other would have forced companies to release the names of chemicals used in health and safety studies rather than keep them cloaked as confidential business information," Law360 stated.
The agency action was praised by industry groups including the American Chemistry Council.
"BPA is still receiving attention on Capitol Hill even as the EPA backs off new regulation. Senate Democrats in June introduced legislation that would force manufacturers to include a warning label on any packaging that contains the chemical and have been pushing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the chemical in products made for children," Law360 added.