Published
August 04, 2025
Nearly a decade after Congress passed bipartisan reforms to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the promise of a modern, risk-based regulatory framework remains unfulfilled. Instead of accelerating the adoption of safer, more sustainable chemistries, TSCA implementation has become a growing challenge—slowing innovation, discouraging investment, and creating uncertainty across critical supply chains.
Across industries, companies are now encountering long, unpredictable delays in the approval of new chemicals—including materials that could reduce environmental impacts, boost energy efficiency, or support domestic manufacturing. These delays are not what Congress intended. TSCA reform was designed to establish a balanced, science-based system—one that evaluates both hazard and real-world exposure to protect human health and the environment while fostering innovation.
Over time, however, the regulatory process has drifted from that vision. Many businesses are withdrawing applications, shelving research, and reconsidering investments due to regulatory barriers that are increasingly complex and opaque. The EPA office responsible for reviewing new chemicals is under-resourced and overextended, with mounting deadlines and limited capacity for timely review or engagement. The result: a drag on American competitiveness at a time when resilient supply chains are more important than ever.
Yet there is cause for optimism. Momentum is building on Capitol Hill and within industry to restore TSCA’s balance and unlock its full potential. Bipartisan interest in strengthening the program offers a chance to modernize its implementation—reducing delays, enhancing transparency, and rebuilding the EPA’s capacity to deliver science-based decisions that enable progress.
That’s why the U.S. Chamber’s 2025 Chemistry Solutions Summit—taking place the morning of October 22 at Chamber headquarters in Washington, D.C.—couldn’t come at a better time. As the 2026 TSCA fee reauthorization process approaches, the Summit will bring together business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to forge collaborative, forward-looking solutions that protect health while supporting growth.
The U.S. Chamber is committed to working with Congress and stakeholders to get TSCA implementation back on track. By restoring clarity and predictability to the process, we can ensure the United States remains a global leader in safe, sustainable innovation—strengthening our supply chains, accelerating economic opportunity, and building a healthier, more resilient future.
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