Leading US electronics and automotive industry associations are backing a bipartisan bill that aims to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, Chemical Watch reports.
According to the publication, the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers (AAM) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) favor the bipartisan Vitter-Udall senate bill, which gives more power to the federal government, over the alternative Boxer-Markey bill that allows states to enforce chemical restrictions.
Under the bipartisan bill, state regulations on chemicals would stand only if enacted before Jan. 1. The legislation would also block states from restricting a chemical if the EPA adopted the same substance for assessment as a priority chemical.
In a statement to Chemical Watch, the AAM said automakers support a single national chemical management program: “it appears that the Vitter-Udall compromise legislation will facilitate a more cohesive federal approach to chemical regulation; one that equally protects the health and safety of all Americans.”
Also talking to Chemical Watch, CEA said the Boxer-Markey bill proposes a “patchwork” of different restrictions, adding, “we would much prefer a unified regulatory approach.”
Congress has been discussing TSCA reform since since May 2013.
