NACD Testifies On Draft Chemicals In Commerce Act Of 2014

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) testified before the Subcommittee on Environment and Economy of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the discussion draft of the Chemicals in Commerce Act of 2014 (CICA). NACD supports Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) modernization and believes the CICA discussion draft is thoughtful and a significant step towards the enactment of sensible chemicals management policy.

Roger T. Harris, president of Producers Chemical Company and NACD's chairman, represented the chemical distribution industry and spoke on behalf of NACD at the hearing. During the testimony, Mr. Harris praised the positive aspects of the discussion draft related to preemption, confidential business information, deadlines and prioritization and offered recommendations clarifying testing and reporting.

When discussing testing and reporting, Mr. Harris commented that, while the discussion draft helps solve an important flaw contained in the existing statute related to testing, clarification of Section 4(b) is needed to ensure the primary focus of the testing will be on chemicals in commerce, not mixtures. He stated, "This clarification would keep the focus on the chemicals of concern rather than on mixtures, reduce unneeded testing and avoid unnecessary burdens on government resources and the industry."

In terms of reporting, NACD supports a risk-based approach to chemical management. To implement a risk-based regulatory scheme, the amended statute should expressly enable the agency to collect necessary use-related information from downstream processors who are formulators of consumer and commercial products. Harris testified, "Downstream formulators have a good understanding of how they use the chemicals they buy from us; distributors do not. Imposing this reporting burden on distributors, many of whom have hundreds or thousands of different industrial customers, would become a financial drain on these companies while yielding little to no additional useful information for EPA."

To view NACD's full testimony and/or an archive of the hearing, go to:  http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/chemicals-commerce-act

NACD and its over 420 member companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. They make a delivery every eight seconds while maintaining a safety record that is more than twice as good as all manufacturing combined. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third-party verified management practice. For additional information on our members, their safety record or NACD, visit NACD at www.nacd.com.

Contact: Caitlin O'Donnell
703/527-NACD(6223)

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SOURCE National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD)