EPA's Consumer Labeling Initiative
Week 2 Guidance - Toxic Substances Control Act & Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
Welcome! This week, we will learn about the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The learning outcomes are as follows:
1. Analyze TSCA’s key concepts and regulatory requirements.
2. Explain FIFRA’s key concepts, including the registration process and the labeling requirement.
Required Resources
Text
Read the following chapters in your text, Environmental Law:
· Chapter 8: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
· Chapter 9: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
· U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consumer labeling initiative. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/labels/consumer-labeling.htm . This site supports the FIFRA and Labeling discussion this week.
Multimedia
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read the label first. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/label/ . This is an interactive tool that promotes an understanding of the information required on the pesticide labels.
Discussions
Participate in the following discussions:
1. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 1st Post Due by Day 3. Analyze whether TSCA should regulate genetically engineered (or modified) organisms. If so, which ones? If not, why not? (You should use the Ashford Online Library to locate at least one scholarly article to support your position.) What burdens exist for businesses that must comply with TSCA? Be sure to consider regulatory requirements under TSCA including premanufacture notice, TSCA inventory, the distinction between new chemicals” and “existing chemicals” and the term “significant new uses”. Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.
2. FIFRA and Labeling. 1st Post Due by Day 3. Explain whether substances should be classified as pesticides under FIFRA based on claims made about them and their “intended use”. What are the benefits and drawbacks to businesses that produce substances that could be used as a pesticide in claiming that the intended use is that of a pesticide? What risks to society are there in relying upon “intended use” claims? Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts.
Assignment
1. EPA’s Consumer Labeling Initiative. Due by Day 7. Prepare a two-page paper (excluding title and reference pages) that discusses the steps required for businesses to comply with Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Review the Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI) page at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website (under the “Required Readings” heading on the “Course Materials” tab) and assess the benefits and drawbacks for manufacturers of products subject to FIFRA’s labeling requirements of the Consumer Labeling Initiative’s “label changes that have resulted from the CLI”. This paper should be formatted according to APA style guidelines.
Reflection
Chapter 8 discusses the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which was enacted in 1976. The purpose of this act is chemical regulation under EPA’s authority. Chemical substances and mixtures regulated are those which pose “unreasonable risk or injury to health or the environment” (Knudsen n.d., p. 1). The associated health and environmental risks of a chemical determines whether it should be controlled by TSCA. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to furnish EPA with information on the health and environmental effects of chemicals and substances. EPA then provides regulation for the manufacture, use, distribution, and disposal while weighing the economic and social benefits of such chemicals and substances against the risks. Please read the entire chapter taking note of the key concepts and regulatory requirements.
The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act was signed into law on June 22, 2016 as an amendment to TSCA, the nation’s primary chemicals management law. Improvements in the new law include:
· mandatory requirement for EPA to evaluate existing chemicals with clear and enforceable deadlines;
· risk-based chemical assessments;
· increased public transparency for chemical information; and
· consistent source of funding for EPA to carry out the responsibilities under the new law ( epa.gov
Chapter 9 covers the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This act has the goal of protecting human health and the environment from the misuse of pesticides, and it has been amended several times in order to achieve this goal (Kundsen, n.d.; Schroeder, 2008). The 1972 amendment, the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act, gave more importance to health and environmental issues the act covers. In later amendments. EPA had more flexibility in the control of dangerous chemicals and the appeals process was streamlined (Schroeder, 2008). Pesticide labeling and registration are regulated, and the costs and benefits associated with use are also considered or evaluated. Pesticides must be registered with the EPA, and manufacturers are required by FIFRA to provide safety and efficacy data on all pesticides sold. If a pesticide has a restricted use, a certified applicator must be present for the use of such pesticide under FIFRA regulation. Read this chapter and familiarize yourselves with concepts, paying attention to the registration process and labeling requirements.
References
Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). Assessing and Managing Chemicals under TSCA. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/frank-r-lautenberg-chemical-safety-21st-century-act
Knudsen, S. (n.d.). Quick Reference: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Retrieved from http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/FIFRA.pdf
Knudsen, S. (n.d.). Quick Reference: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Retrieved from http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/TSCA.pdf .
Schroder, K. L. (2008). Environmental Law. Clifton Park, NY: Thomas Delmar Learning