United States: Chemicals

The EPA has proposed the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6), requiring public water systems to collect data on 30 unregulated contaminants including certain PFAS from 2028 to 2030. Despite petitions from seven state governors and environmental groups, the agency declined to add microplastics to the monitoring list, citing the absence of validated testing methods, though microplastics remain on the draft Contaminant Candidate List 6 for potential future regulation.

The EPA is advancing TSCA reviews of five industrial chemicals by sending draft technical documents to independent peer review, but the agency's decision to limit the scope of that review—excluding full draft risk evaluations—has reignited debate over whether partial peer review adequately serves the statute's intent for comprehensive scientific oversight. As these chemicals appear in flame retardants, aviation fuel, and industrial processes with direct implications for worker and community heal

In Keyport, New Jersey, ongoing concerns about cancer cases have left many residents wondering who could potentially be held responsible if environmental contamination is involved.

The Alliance for Chemical Distribution's ChemEdge 2026 conference will feature expert training on critical regulatory compliance topics for chemical industry professionals. Ryan N. Schmit will deliver a presentation covering the complex import and export requirements under TSCA and FIFRA regulations.

The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to eliminate animal testing in chemical safety assessments across 15 domains, including industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and food additives.

Connecticut will require manufacturers to notify state regulators and label consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals starting July 1, 2026.

The tenth annual TSCA Reform Conference examines a decade of progress under the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, while Congress considers modernization bills and EPA advances chemical reviews amid budget constraints and evolving regulatory priorities. Federal agencies navigate complex challenges in chemical safety oversight, from PFAS contamination to food additive assessments, as stakeholders debate the future direction of environmental protection and public health policy.

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking public input on alternative regulatory frameworks for genetically engineered organisms under the Plant Protection Act, following a court ruling that vacated the 2020 SECURE rule.

The FDA has launched a new proactive food chemical safety post-market assessment program and initiated reassessments of two widely used food additives: butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and azodicarbonamide (ADA).