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Deposit return scheme: Circularity Scotland hails “milestone” producer registration and reaffirms August 2023 launch date amid growing scepticism

By Nicola Smith, Anita Lloyd and Francesca Puttock on Posted in Alcohol, Food and Entertainment Licensing, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental, Food Safety, Product Safety, Uncategorized
With a planned launch date of 16 August 2023, the pressure is on for the Scottish government to deliver the deposit return scheme (“DRS”) for drinks containers. Despite increased scrutiny of industry readiness, Circularity Scotland (“CSL”) reaffirmed on 2 March that the scheme is on track and that producers responsible for more than 95% of … Continue Reading

Key Federal PFAS Regulatory Developments in 2022 and 2023

By Charli Davis on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Rulemaking & Policy Development
In 2022, US EPA indicated that it would take a more aggressive stance on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). US EPA developed a PFAS Strategic Roadmap for 2021-2024 that sets timelines by which US EPA plans to take specific actions and sets out its three main directives: 1) research PFAS exposure; 2) restrict PFAS from … Continue Reading

New Plastics Bill Would Require US EPA Action Under TSCA

By Nicole Bothwell on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability
As interest in regulating the production and use of plastics continues to grow, users of chemicals related to plastics should take note of the newly proposed “Protecting Communities from Plastics Act,” introduced in Congress on December 1, 2022 (the Act).  The Act is intended to identify potential health effects of certain plastics, limit their production, and … Continue Reading

China Publishes Draft List of Key New Pollutants under Pollutant Control Action Plan

By Danelle Gagliardi on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Rulemaking & Policy Development
We have been monitoring the progress China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) has been making on the goals set in its New Pollutant Control Action Plan, released in May 2022. One of the goals of the Plan was to release a list of key “new pollutants” for regulation and control, the categories of which … Continue Reading

2022 Chemicals Workshop Webinar Series: PFAS, REACH and Other Chemical Regulatory Issues

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in CERCLA/RCRA, Chemicals & Products, Rulemaking & Policy Development
A recording of PFAS, REACH and Other Chemical Regulatory Issues the second webinar in our two-part 2022 Chemicals Workshop webinar series, in partnership with the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council (OCTC), is now available. In this session, we provided an overview of the rapidly evolving landscape related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including the proposed … Continue Reading

2022 Chemicals Workshop Webinar Series: TSCA Developments and US EPA Updates

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Rulemaking & Policy Development
A recording of TSCA Developments and US EPA Updates, the first webinar in our two-part 2022 Chemicals Workshop webinar series in partnership with the Ohio Chemistry Technology Council (OCTC), is now available. In this session, we reviewed US EPA’s implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including proposed “whole chemical” determinations and other Biden … Continue Reading

US EPA Launches Initiative to Streamline the Review Process for Certain Electric Vehicle and Clean Energy Chemicals

By ScheLeese Goudy on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Energy & Utilities, Environmental, Mining & Natural Resources
On October 5, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intent to streamline the review process of mixed metal oxides (MMOs).  MMOs are a key component in lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric vehicles and other clean energy initiatives, including in semi-conductors, and renewable energy generation and storage, such as in solar … Continue Reading

Prop 65 Regulatory Update for the Cannabis Industry: Tailored Warnings Become Effective October 1, 2022 with a 1-Year Grace Period for Compliance

By Danelle Gagliardi on Posted in Chemicals & Products
As we noted in a prior post, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) proposed tailored Prop 65 safe harbor warnings for THC and marijuana smoke, following listing THC for reproductive harm and marijuana smoke as cancer-causing in January 2020 (marijuana smoke was already listed for reproductive harm as of 2009). After considerable … Continue Reading

US EPA Resurrects Long-Dormant DINP Rulemaking

By Sam Ballingrud on Posted in Administrative Procedures Act, Chemicals & Products, Environmental, Rulemaking & Policy Development
While rulemakings under the Administrative Procedure Act typically take several years from proposal to enactment, that can vary significantly.  While some rules run a fairly standard course, others languish for years with no action nor any apparent reason for inaction.  EPA’s recent revival of a proposed rule that is now, were it a person, old … Continue Reading

US EPA’S Draft Screening Level Approach May Broaden Scope of Chemical Risk Evaluations Under TSCA

By Nicole Bothwell on Posted in Chemicals & Products
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) continues to advance various aspects of its chemicals regulatory agenda under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). A key part of the Biden Administration’s revisions to the TSCA program is its planned new screening approach for assessing ambient air and water exposures to fenceline communities. This screening … Continue Reading

China’s New Pollutant Control Action Plan: A Focused Plan that Could Impact the Chemical Industry Outside of China

By Danelle Gagliardi on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Environmental Protection
It is no secret that China has long struggled with implementing measures for pollution control and regulating hazardous chemicals. We have watched this issue closely and published about it in years past here. However, on May 24, 2022, the China State Council issued its most focused plan yet, known as the “New Pollutant Control Action … Continue Reading

UK Calorie Labelling for Food and Drink in Restaurants, Takeaways, Deli Counters and Other ‘Out of Home’

By Nicola Smith on Posted in Alcohol, Food and Entertainment Licensing, Chemicals & Products, Food Safety, Product Safety
There is less than a month to go before the UK’s new Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 (the “Regulations”) come into force (6 April 2022). The Regulations include obligations for calorie labelling for ‘non-prepacked foods’ in England, which are sold in a form suitable for ‘immediate consumption’. They will require businesses … Continue Reading

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Publishes Enforcement Data (UK)

By Nicola Smith and Rob Elvin on Posted in Product Safety
The OPSS has published details of its enforcement actions during the six months from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. Actions related to product safety included orders for forfeiture and destruction, compliance notices and the issue of mandatory withdrawal and recall notices. Relevant businesses included businesses based in Great Britain, but also a significant … Continue Reading

February 2022 Update: EU Sustainability Outlook: Key Developments In EU Sustainability Law and Policy

By Anita Lloyd on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental, Environmental Protection, Food Safety, Health & Safety, Rulemaking & Policy Development
Our European Public Policy team is pleased to share with you our monthly newsletter, Sustainability Outlook – European Union which looks at key developments in EU sustainability law and policy. This month’s edition includes the following:… Continue Reading

January 2022 Update: EU Sustainability Outlook: Key Developments In EU Sustainability Law and Policy

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental Litigation, Environmental Protection, Health & Safety, Rulemaking & Policy Development
Our European Public Policy team is pleased to share with you our monthly newsletter, which looks at key developments in EU sustainability law and policy. This month’s edition includes the following:… Continue Reading

January 2022 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment Safety and Health Law Procedure and Policy

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Brexit, Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental Litigation, Environmental Protection, Health & Safety, Product Safety, Rulemaking & Policy Development, Solid & Hazardous Waste
Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. The updates covered in this month’s edition include (among … Continue Reading

Cartel allegations in France regarding the concealed use of Bisphenol A in food packaging

By Erling Estellon and Ruggero Chicco on Posted in Chemicals & Products
Bisphenol A is a chemical product which is considered an endocrine disruptor and, for that reason, has been banned from the food industry since 2015 by the French Food Safety Agency (FSA).  Bisphenol A is, however, still legally used in other countries (including the UK and other EU Member States). The French Competition Authority (FCA) … Continue Reading

Prop 65 Regulatory Update for the Food & Cannabis Industry: OEHHA Proposes Specialized Warnings for Exposures to Acrylamide from Food & Exposures to Smoke from Cannabis/THC Products

By Kendra Sherman and Danelle Gagliardi on Posted in Chemicals & Products, Product Safety
Food has become a bigger and bigger target for enforcement under Prop 65 over the last few years, and acrylamide in particular has been the subject of scrutiny by both the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and in pending litigation. You can find our prior post on this subject here. Now, OEHHA … Continue Reading

July 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment, Safety and Health Law, Procedure and Policy

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Air Quality, Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Energy & Utilities, Environmental Litigation, Environmental Protection, Health & Safety, Product Safety, Rulemaking & Policy Development, Solid & Hazardous Waste
Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. The updates covered in this month’s edition include (among … Continue Reading

May 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment, Safety and Health Law, Procedure and Policy

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Air Quality, Climate Change & Sustainability, Energy & Utilities, Product Safety, Rulemaking & Policy Development
Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. This month’s edition includes the following: Fire Safety Act … Continue Reading

April 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment, Safety and Health Law, Procedure and Policy

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Air Quality, Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental Litigation, Product Safety, Rulemaking & Policy Development, Solid & Hazardous Waste
Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. This month’s edition includes the following: The government has … Continue Reading

March 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment Safety and Health Law Procedure and Policy

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Air Quality, Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental Litigation, Product Safety, Rulemaking & Policy Development, Water Quality
Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. This month’s edition includes the following: The Home Office … Continue Reading

February 2021 Update: frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK and EU Environment Safety and Health Law Procedure and Policy

By Squire Patton Boggs on Posted in Air Quality, Brexit, Chemicals & Products, Climate Change & Sustainability, Environmental Litigation, Rulemaking & Policy Development
Our Environmental, Safety & Health team is pleased to share with you the latest edition of our monthly newsletter, frESH Law Horizons: Key Developments in UK & EU Environment, Safety and Health Law and Procedure; providing bite-size updates on EU and UK law, procedure and policy. This month’s edition includes the following: COVID-19 route maps … Continue Reading
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