California DTSC & EPA Sign Cooperative Agreement Under Green Chemistry Initiative

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have signed a formal agreement which outlines principles by which DTSC and EPA will cooperate to reduce toxic chemicals in consumer products, create new business opportunities in the emerging safer consumer products economy, and reduce the level of effort required for consumers and businesses to identify the components of the products.

This agreement will allow DTSC and U.S. EPA to minimize duplication of effort and promote consistency in their assessment methodologies. The agreement also creates a partnership between the two agencies and sets up a framework to collaborate on Green Chemistry issues related to California’s “Green Chemistry” program. The U.S. EPA’s Green Chemistry Program supports fundamental research in the area of environmentally benign chemistry as well as a variety of educational activities, international activities, conferences and meetings, and tool development, all through voluntary partnerships with academia, industry, other government agencies and non-government organizations.

DTSC’s informal draft Safer Consumer Products Regulations, scheduled to be finalized in 2012, will require manufacturers of selected products sold in California to identify safer alternatives to a potential range of 3,000 chemicals known to be harmful to public health and the environment. DTSC expects to release its draft Safer Consumer Products Regulations in early 2012 for public comment. The Regulations are a key element of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative signed into law in 2008.

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