SOCMA Member, Small Business Owner Testifies on Impact of TSCA on Specialty Chemical Industry

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boron Specialties President and Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) member Beth D. Bosley today testified before Congress that any changes to the nation's chemical control law must provide adequate protection of trade secrets and promote innovation while protecting human health and the environment.

Testifying before the House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, Bosley told lawmakers that changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) should be driven by sound science and consider potential impacts on small businesses like hers.

"Smart regulation can and should achieve its objectives without inhibiting innovation," she said. "This isn't an abstract issue – American companies like mine are on the cutting edge of chemical innovation, regularly developing new chemicals for themselves or on a contract basis for other companies," Bosley explained. "TSCA has allowed us to lead the world in chemical innovation, and has done so without jeopardizing our nation's health or the environment." 

U.S. specialty chemical manufacturers, many of which are regulated under TSCA, are highly entrepreneurial and inventive, pioneering advanced chemistries not made anywhere else in the world. 

In her testimony, Bosley was critical of how well EPA regulates existing chemicals under TSCA, but touted the new chemicals program as a success.

"The new chemicals program and exemptions are critical to American competitiveness and to my ability to stay in business," she said. "They have also helped EPA successfully manage its workload demanded by TSCA."

Bosley also stressed the importance of protecting company trade secrets, while recognizing that over claiming of confidential business information and lack of EPA oversight have created problems.

"Given the narrow applications for which specialty chemicals are used and the niche markets they serve, disclosure of chemical identity may be all it takes to destroy our competitive advantage over a foreign manufacturer," she said.

Boron Specialties, a small privately held specialty chemical manufacturer, has been a member of SOCMA since 2010.

About SOCMA

SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated solely to the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry. Since 1921, we have represented a diverse membership of small, medium and large chemical companies, making us the leading authority on this sector.

Contact:
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Director, Public Relations & Media
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SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates