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NPRA

National Petrochemical and Refiners Assocation

Chemical Risk Policy

Chemical Risk Policy Announcement

NPRA is forming an informal network of member representatives who are interested in chemical risk management policy.


Chemical risk policy, also known as chemicals policy, concerns issues related to chemical risk management. Chemical risk management is typically an iterative process, including, but not limited to the following:

  • Information gathering
  • Description of hazards
  • Description of uses and potential for exposures
  • Comparison of hazards and exposures (risk assessment)
  • Actions to reduce risk

Chemicals policy can be related to government actions, market forces, industry best practices and product stewardship. Initiatives, such as the new European REACH regulations and the recently announced Chemical Assessment & Management Program (ChAMP) at the U.S. EPA have led to robust international debates on how to best manage chemical risks while remaining competitive in an increasingly global marketplace.

NPRA's Petrochemical Program closely follows developments in the area of chemicals policy, not just in government but also in the marketplace. Petrochemical staff works closely with the Government Relations Department at NPRA to ensure timely and proactive positions in critical areas, such as REACH, TSCA, the United Nations Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), the North American Sound Management of Chemicals (SMOC) program, as well as other related issues. The Petrochemical Program also coordinates with other trade associations throughout the value chain to proactively support key government and industry programs that enhance the competitiveness of American businesses, while protecting health and the environment.

NPRA believes that chemical risk management has become one of the hottest policy topics, affecting everything from what can be sold in commerce to securing chemical facilities against terrorist attacks, and will continue to be for the next few years.

  • REACH

    REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals), a new and dramatically different approach to regulatory chemicals management, went into effect in the European Union on June 1, 2007. REACH differs from most other regulatory approaches because it can require extensive toxicity and other laboratory testing, based primarily on the quantities at which chemicals are produced or imported and not on risk.

  • Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

    TSCA gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broad authority to regulate chemicals in commerce. It is one of the few laws that can restrict a company’s ability to do business in the United States. 

     

  • Chemical Testing

    Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), specifically under TSCA Section 4, EPA can require companies to test certain substances and submit the testing results to the Agency. EPA also uses consent orders, which are negotiated between the Agency and chemical companies that will be sponsoring the testing, to reduce administrative burdens.

  • EPA Chemical Assessment & Management Program (ChAMP)

    To fulfill its obligations under the Security & Prosperity Partnership of North America, EPA initiated ChAMP, a tiered, targeted and risk-based approach to chemicals management. Historically, EPA has used this type of approach, but it is the expectation that under ChAMP, the tiered, targeted and risk-based approach will become institutionalized as the North American chemicals policy.

  • Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)

    SAICM is a United Nations program designed to coordinate chemical risk management around the world. The process began with a simple premise—to strategically harmonize chemical risk management approaches globally—but quickly diverged into several differing approaches. Proponents of the new EU REACH system find this an ideal opportunity to globalize REACH.

  • Congressional Bans on Uses of Chemicals

    Chemical risk management has traditionally been a function of the Executive Branch of government, primarily through the Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety & Health Administration and Consumer Product Safety Commission. Congress does not have the level of scientific expertise or support in matters of toxicology and chemical risk assessment to make fully informed decisions on specific chemicals.

  • Marketplace Issues

    As pressing as some of the regulatory and potential legislative chemical risk issues may be, issues in the marketplace are requiring manufacturers, distributors and retailers to quickly adapt to new ways of doing business.

  • Availability of Raw Materials

    One of the unintended consequences of certain environmental regulations is a market distortion toward a particular product over other competing products. Petrochemical producers need an abundant supply of raw materials and may have to compete with electric utilities and others for their most critical feedstocks.

  • Precautionary Principle

    The Precautionary Principle is a philosophy related to protection of health and the environment and is based on the “better safe than sorry” approach to decision-making. The Precautionary Principle will be a central issue in the chemical risk management debates of the future.