The document discusses the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory, which is maintained by the EPA. The inventory includes any organic or inorganic chemical substances in US commerce, excluding mixtures, articles, and chemicals regulated by other statutes. The inventory was first compiled in the late 1970s and is updated as new chemicals are introduced. It provides important information to the public and regulated communities about chemicals and establishes what is considered existing versus new under TSCA. Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date inventory is central to the EPA's implementation and enforcement of TSCA.

1. Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

2. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
Background
• The original TSCA law mandated that EPA establish an Inventory of Chemicals subject to
TSCA purview.
• The TSCA Inventory generally includes any organic or inorganic substance or combination
of substance occuring as a result of a chemical reaction or occuring in nature.
• The TSCA Inventory is comprised of individual chemical substance.
• TSCA specifically excludes mixtures, articles, and chemicals
subject to other US statutes such as foods, pesticides, drugs, cosmetics, tobacco, nuclear
material, and munitions.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

3. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
Purpose and Benefits of an Inventory
• The TSCA Inventory is required by US statute.
• Maintaining a robust Inventory is central to TSCA.
– It establishes the TSCA universe of the new and existing chemicals.
– Chemicals not listed on the Inventory may be subject to new chemical reporting under TSCA section 5.
– Chemicals listed on the Inventory may be subject to existing chemical reporting under other sections
of TSCA.
• Public postings of the TSCA Inventory:
– Provide important information to regulated communities
– Facilitate transparency
– Increase public awareness on chemicals in US commerce
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

4. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
Compiling the TSCA Inventory
• The first EPA action under TSCA was to compile the original TSCA Inventory.
• This was implemented by regulation:
– The Inventory Reporting rule was proposed in March 1977 and finalized in December 1977.
– Chemicals were required to be reported if they were in US commerce since January 1975.
– The submission period was January to June 1978.
• The original TSCA Inventory was published in May 1979.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

5. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
Keeping the Inventory Current – Adding New Chemicals
• Chemicals listed on the TSCA Inventory are “existing chemicals” in US commerce.
• Chemicals not listed on the TSCA Inventory are “new chemicals”.
– New chemicals must be reported to EPA in a Premanufacture Notice, or PMN, BEFORE they can be
commercialized in the US for non-exempt purpose.
– A PMN chemical approved for distribution in US commerce is added to the Inventory after it has been
commercialized.
– PMN submitters notify EPA of commercialization via a Notice of Commencement, or NOC.
• The current TSCA Inventory has approximately 86,400 chemicals; approx. 24,400 have
been added since the original inventory was established.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

6. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
Keeping the Inventory Current – Notices of Activity
• The commercial status of chemicals on the TSCA Inventory at any given point in time
was previously unknown since chemicals can fall in and out of US commerce.
•
• Amended TSCA addressed this by requiring a re-reporting of the commercial status of
Inventory listed substances.
– This was implemented by regulation: TSCA Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) rule.
• Chemicals newly or recently commercialized are listed on the Inventory as “active.”
• Chemicals no reported designates as inactive.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

7. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
Publishing the TSCA Inventory
• The TSCA Inventory is published twice a year on EPA’s Inventory web site and via EPA’s
Substance Registry Service.
– Non-confidential information is provided for every Inventory listing.
• regulatory flags, informational flags, commercial activity status
– Chemicals with confidential identities are published with generic identifiers.
• Publications provide the regulated community and the public with information on tens
of thousands of existing chemicals in US commerce.
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

8. TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory
In Summary, a Chemical Inventory can:
• Be an important and useful tool to a sound chemicals management program.
– The TSCA Inventory is central to TSCA work at EPA
– It establishes universe of the new & existing chemicals under TSCA
• Be a source of important information to regulated communities.
• Increase public awareness on chemicals in commerce.
• Provide a framework for international collaboration and data exchange on common and
high priority chemicals.
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Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

9. More Information
THANK YOU
https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory
https://ofmpub.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/substreg/home/overview/home.do
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics