United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2005-11-04 monographic deposited born digital 22 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-217R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R P0b002ee18038dec9 f:d06217r DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R GAO-06-217R Environmental law Environmental monitoring Federal regulations Foreign governments Hazardous substances Health hazards Manufacturing industry Regulatory agencies Reporting requirements Toxic substances Chemical agents Risk assessment Comparative analysis Confidential information Canada European Union Correspondence A41117 Chemicals are used to produce items widely used throughout society, including consumer products such as cleansers, paints, plastics, and fuels, as well as industrial solvents and additives. While chemicals play an important role in everyday life, some may be harmful to human health and the environment. Some chemicals, such as lead and mercury, are highly toxic at certain doses and need to be regulated because of health and safety concerns. In 1976, the Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in part to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. TSCA addresses chemicals that are manufactured, imported, processed, distributed in commerce, used, or disposed of in the United States and authorizes EPA to assess chemicals before they enter commerce (new chemicals) and review those already in commerce (existing chemicals). TSCA excludes certain chemical substances, including among other things pesticides that are regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); and food; food additives; drugs; cosmetics or devices that are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). In this context, Congress asked that we provide comparative information on the following chemical control laws: TSCA, Canadian Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA), the current European Union legislation, and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as proposed. Specifically, Congress asked that we provide information on the approaches of (1) controlling chemical risks, (2) reviewing existing chemicals used in commerce, (3) assessing new chemicals, and (4) handling confidential business information. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R.pdf GAO-06-217R https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-217R Correspondence GAO-06-217R; Chemical Regulation: Approaches in the United States, Canada, and the European Union; Environmental law Environmental monitoring Federal regulations Foreign governments Hazardous substances Health hazards Manufacturing industry Regulatory agencies Reporting requirements Toxic substances Chemical agents Risk assessment Comparative analysis Confidential information Canada European Union Volume 40 Page 2003 40 Stat. 2003 Public Law 94-469