US House of Representatives passes bill to update Toxic Substances Control Act

US House of Representatives has passed a bill to update the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a regulation that governs use of harmful chemicals in various products such as in cosmetics.

Following the passage of the bill last week, the US Senate will now review and vote for it early this month.

Congress is updating the law for the first in nearly three decades.

If the bill gets passed, the updated law will compel Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin a new review process to prioritise those chemicals that can harm humans.

A scientific review would also be required to ascertain if a chemical causes harm to public health. If it does, EPA will have to require firms to issue warning labels or it could simply ban the chemical.

Before imposing a ban, EPA will have to first explore alternative options.

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) president and CEO Lawrence D Sloan said: "This is a truly historic moment for a major piece of environmental legislation. SOCMA and the specialty chemical companies that we represent have been longtime stakeholders in the TSCA reform debate."

Sloan also added: "SOCMA looks forward to swift passage in the Senate and President Obama’s signature on this final bill."