Priority Product Categories Named in California Green Chemistry Program

Last month, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued its first draft Priority Product Work Plan as required by the State's green chemistry law and implementing Safer Consumer Products (SCP) regulations.  Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, §69501 et seq.  DTSC will finalize the Work Plan after consideration of public comments, due October 21.

The draft SCP Priority Product Work Plan (Work Plan) lists seven consumer product categories from which the DTSC will choose Priority Products over the following three years.  Identified Priority Products will then be subject to evaluation and alternatives analysis, and face possible regulation ranging from data collection, labeling, use restrictions/controls, product stewardship, to phase out.

The categories that are proposed for initial consideration are:

1. Beauty/Personal Care/Hygiene (Skin Products, Personal Hygiene Products, Hair Products, Cosmetics/Fragrances);
2. Building Products (Flooring, Painting, Sealants/Fillers/Adhesives);
3. Cleaning Products (Fresheners/Deodorizers, Cleaners, Laundry, Surface Care);
4. Clothing (Full Body Wear, Lower Body Wear/Bottoms, Sleepwear, Sportswear, Underwear, Upper Body Wear/Tops);
5. Household/Office Furniture/Furnishings (Bedding, Fabric/Textile, Furnishings Household/Office Seating);
6. Office Machinery Consumable Products (Inks and Toners, Specialty Paper); and
7. Fishing and Angling Equipment (Fishing Weights & Gear).

These categories were chosen based on DTSC's evaluation of product categories containing chemicals with clear pathways for dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure; found in biomonitoring, water quality, or indoor air quality studies; impacting sensitive subpopulations; or; having aquatic resource impacts. 

This is the first publication of a potential list of target priority product categories.  After it is finalized, the Work Plan must be revised every three years.  New product categories are expected to be identified during the process. Work on revising the Plan will begin one year before the Plan's three year expiration date.

Pesticides and prescription drugs are excluded from the scope of the Safer Consumer Products regulations by statute.