ACI Expresses Concerns on California's Proposed Safer Consumer Products Regulation

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI; Washington, D.C.) said it will review the latest iteration of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) proposed safer products regulations, which would put in place rules affecting thousands of products.

The DTSC spent several years working on the proposed regulation, which is part of California's Green Chemistry Initiative. ACI’s comments on previous revisions cited, in their opinion, a number of shortcomings. The latest July 27 proposal is now in a 45-day comment period. 

“We have been actively engaged in the development of the California Green Chemistry Initiative over the past five years," said Paul DeLeo, ACI's senior director of environmental safety.

DeLeo also said ACI and its members provided extensive input through meetings with DTSC, seminars and written comments in an aim to make the regulations effective, efficient and workable. 

Still, “we’re concerned that little has been done to address the scientific validity of the proposed regulation and the excessive burden it would place upon the economy, while at the same time offering little in the way of benefits to consumers,” DeLeo added. “It is critical that the final rules be manageable and workable for industry, consumers and regulators alike.”

Separately, the DTSC said the proposal requires manufacturers to seek alternative ingredients in widely used products. 

Using a world-wide recognized list of “chemicals of concern,” the regulation would create a process in which manufacturers that use one of the listed chemicals must identify and examine the viability of safer ingredients. If an alternative is not feasible, the DTSC will identify steps the manufacturer must take to ensure the product is safely used, disposed of, or phased out. The regulation also provides consumers with enhanced information about product ingredients.

The DTSC has a scheduled a public hearing on the matter in Sacramento at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10. Written comments must be submitted before 5 p.m. on Sept. 11. 

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