A Study On The Toxic Substances Control Act Of The United States

In 1976,the U.S.Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act as the general chemical control act.This is a special legislation to control the unreasonable risk or excessive harm caused by hazardous chemicals to human health and the environment.The Toxic Substances Control Act covers all the regulatory rules in the production and distribution of industrial chemicals,and establishes a complete set of chemical management systems,including requirements for reporting,recording,tracking,testing and use restrictions of commercial industrial chemicals.These legal systems will be discussed in detail in this paper.With the rapid development of the chemical industry,the Toxic Substances Control Act has been unable to meet the needs of modern chemical control in the United States,and the legislative flaws and difficulties encountered in the enforcement process began to gradually expose.In2002,the United Nations promulgated the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.In 2006 and 2008,the European Union also promulgated and implemented the REACH and CLP,which has produced an important demonstration and linkage effect in the world.In response to domestic demand and in line with the international context,the United States made important reforms and amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act,known as the Frank Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act for the 21 st Century.At present,China’s special legislation on chemical pollution prevention and control is not mature enough,so we need to learn from advanced scientific experience.Through a detailed interpretation of the birth and revision of the Toxic Substances Control Act in the United States,this paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the legal system presented therein,summarizes the effects and difficulties of the implementation of the Act,and expounds some inspirations and thoughts on the environmental management of chemicals in China,with a view to providing some reference for the improvement of China’s chemical control system.