ACC and California Businesses Call on DTSC to Improve
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and more than 25 organizations have sent a letter to California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to highlight their commitment to work with the department to help meet the objectives of the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Regulations without negatively impacting the state’s economy.
The organizations, including individual businesses and industry associations, represent a wide array of products and services. The letter outlines seven core principles that should be incorporated into the final version of the Three-Year Work Plan, DTSC’s roadmap to assess whether an alternative product could replace certain chemical ingredients or products. Among the seven principles are recommendations that DTSC engage industry and other experts early in the process, improve transparency, and establish sound scientific methods to evaluate products. DTSC met on December 10 in Sacramento and will provide a progress report on the Priority Products Work Plan, which was released in September.
“It’s critical that DTSC engages stakeholders early in the process and makes decisions based on strong scientific evidence. To do otherwise compromises the credibility of the Green Chemistry program and disrupts the marketplace. Californians deserve better from their public servants,” said ACC President and CEO Cal Dooley.
According to a news release by the ACC, DTSC’s initial listing and description of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation to the draft Priority Products list lacked manufacturer input and created confusion and negative economic impact in the market due to inaccurate information about SPF provided to the public by DTSC. Spray foam contractors who attended DTSC’s public workshops earlier this year reported that they had delayed hiring and equipment purchase decisions due to the negative and inaccurate communications issued by DTSC regarding SPF.
The Safer Consumer Products regulations were mandated by legislation passed in 2008 that authorized DTSC to establish a framework for identifying, prioritizing, evaluating and developing alternatives to the use of certain chemicals in consumer products in California.
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