On June 14, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule to prohibit the manufacture and use of n-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) based on its unreasonable risk determination under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). In the 2021 final risk evaluation, EPA determined that NMP presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health due to the significant adverse health effects associated with exposure to NMP. TSCA requires that the EPA address the unreasonable risks by rule and apply requirements to the extent necessary so that NMP no longer presents such risks.
To address the identified risks, EPA is proposing to:
- Prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce and use of NMP in several occupational conditions of use.
- Require worker protections through an NMP workplace protection program (WCPP) or prescriptive controls (including concentration limits) for most of the occupational conditions of use.
- Require concentration limits on a consumer product.
- Regulate certain consumer products to prevent commercial use.
- Establish recordkeeping, labeling, and downstream notification requirements for NMP.
Comments are due on July 29, 2024.
Read the proposal in the Federal Register and submit comments on Regulations.gov.
Advocacy contact: Send an email to Emily Jones at Emily.Jones@sba.gov.