The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an action plan on HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane). HBCD is a flame retardant used in certain types of insulation, textiles coatings, and electronics. The following is a statement from Mike Walls, American Chemistry Council's vice president of regulatory and technical affairs.
"The chemical industry supports modernizing the way chemicals are managed. We want the public to have confidence in the strength of our regulatory system and in the products used in commerce. At the same time, we remain concerned that the EPA chemical action plan process does not include a transparent science-based approach to chemical assessment and chemical management. EPA has a responsibility to assess the actual risk of a chemical, review the weight of evidence of all scientific studies, and evaluate the specific uses of a chemical, as well as the availability, performance and safety of functional alternatives.
"Industry supports the safe production and use of HBCD and will work with the agency as it implements its action plan. But because it is not clear if the action plan process is grounded in a thorough scientific review – including the review of possible alternatives – we are concerned about how the review has been conducted. We ask EPA to ensure that the process of developing chemical action plans includes a transparent, disciplined and thorough scientific process, so that all stakeholders understand the basis for EPA's intended actions."
For more information, visit: http://www.americanchemistry.com.
