CA passes landmark green chemistry laws

On August 28, 2013 the California Office of Administrative Law (“OAL”) adopted California Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (“DTSC”) Safer Products Regulations.  These regulations will go into effect on October 1, 2013. These important regulations, also referred to as “Green Chemical” regulations, establish a process to identify and prioritize consumer products containing chemicals of concern, permit evaluation of safer alternatives and provide for the potential imposition of product or chemical restrictions by DTSC.  The legislative purpose of the regulations is to implement California Assembly Bill 1978, or the “Green Chemistry” law, enacted in 2008.  (Health and Safety Code §§ 25215-25257.1.)  The regulations have been five years in the making, and are the result of several prior drafts and multiple public comment periods.  The consequences of these unprecedented regulations are far reaching, and carry the potential to affect a wide range of consumer products placed into the national stream of commerce. Read more