September 26, 2014
On September 25th, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) held the first of two public workshops on the new three-year workplan for the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) initiative. SCP chief Karl Palmer presented DTSC’s rationale for the seven product categories intended as sources of future Priority Products:
It is clear that DTSC did not use a quantitative scoring or ranking approach to select these product categories but rather relied on a more qualitative review of available information concerning potential exposure and hazard.
DTSC took comments from the audience, which was evenly divided between industry representatives and environmental NGOs. Industry audience members generally asked DTSC to narrow the product categories and to continue talking with industry representatives prior to designating any future priority products. They also asked DTSC to explain the rationale for selecting product categories that are already regulated by other agencies (e.g., triclosan, regulated by both US EPA and US FDA). NGOs generally requested expansions of the seven categories to include more products (e.g., toothpastes, air fresheners, cash register receipts, and perfluorinated chemicals in cosmetics).
DTSC also announced changes in two of the three Priority Products proposed in March. The polyurethane spray foam insulation Priority Product will be narrowed to include only methylene diisocyanate-containing products and will not include surface coatings involving other isocyanates. This Priority Product will also be limited to two-component systems rather than pre-mixed, one-component products (these pose a lower potential for diisocyanate exposure). Conversely, the children’s bedding Priority Product will be expanded to include the flame retardant TCEP as well as TDCPP.
DTSC is accepting written comments on the draft workplan until October 13, 2014 via the SAFER website.