What is the Toxic Substances Control Act?

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is a federal environmental law that became effective in 1976 in Washington. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate chemicals used in the United States to ensure they are safe for human health and the environment. The Act requires the EPA to review health and environmental impacts of existing chemicals, create a list of chemicals that are approved for commercial use, and regulate and restrict chemicals that pose a risk to public health or the environment. Under the TSCA, the EPA evaluates the potential health and environmental impacts of new chemicals before they are approved for use in the United States. The Act also requires disclosures of health and safety information to the public about existing chemicals that are being used. The EPA has the authority to ban or restrict the use of chemicals based on their potential risks. The TSCA has been amended multiple times since it was first passed in 1976, most notably in 2016 with the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This amendment strengthens the EPA’s ability to review chemicals and regulate them. Under the amendment, the EPA is required to review existing chemicals and prioritize their potential health effects. The amendment also requires companies to submit new information about the safety of chemicals and the effects of exposure to them.

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What is the Toxic Substances Control Act?

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