EPA's chemical approval delays threaten domestic manufacturing

During a recent government meeting, significant concerns were raised regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) handling of new chemical approvals under the Toxic Substances Control Act. It was highlighted that the EPA has consistently failed to meet its statutory deadline of 60 days for determining new chemical approvals, with only 48 out of 413 chemicals currently under review having been processed in less than 90 days. This indicates that a staggering 88% of reviews are exceeding the mandated timeframe.

The discussion emphasized the detrimental impact of the EPA's slow pace on the commercialization of new, science-backed replacement substances. Stakeholders expressed frustration over the agency's practice of pausing reviews, particularly at the 82-day mark, which often leads to indefinite delays. This backlog was described as \"unacceptable\" from both legal and domestic manufacturing perspectives, raising alarms about the implications for industry innovation and regulatory compliance.

The meeting underscored the urgent need for the EPA to streamline its processes to align with congressional directives and support the timely introduction of safer chemical alternatives.