The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) went into effect on January 1, 1977. TSCA authorized the U.S. EPA to secure information on all new and existing chemical substances, as well as to control any substances that were determined to cause unreasonable risk to public health or the environment. Congress later added additional titles to TSCA.

Although some provisions of TSCA are self-implementing, the statute directed the EPA to develop regulations for implementing the non self-implementing provisions. TSCA regulations, known as rules in this context, allow the EPA to deal with complex issues in greater detail than is possible in a statute. Such rules are proposed by the EPA in the Federal Register for public comment and then, following the rule-making process, are promulgated as final or put into effect as part of the regulatory requirements.

The various laws and regulations in place in the United States for the management of chemicals are strong and protective of public health and the environment. Significant improvements have been made in public health and the environment following more than 30 years of compliance with an extensive safety net of environmental, health and safety laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels, on manufacturers and users of chemical products.

While TSCA is not the only piece of legislation governing the regulation of chemicals in the United States, it is an important component of a multitude of regulations. TSCA, coupled with a complex legal and regulatory framework, other regulatory requirements, as well as a myriad of voluntary programs, initiatives and innovations, has led to advances in health and the environment.   

For more on TSCA, please check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site.