On December 30, 2005, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) published a notice in the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 05, No. 53-Z) extending the public comment period related to the announcement of its intent to list 2,4-D (2,4 dichlorphenoxy) acetic acid and certain related compounds (originally published on November 18, 2005 in CRNR Register 05, No. 47-Z) under Proposition 65 as chemicals known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity in accordance with the regulatory criteria in Section 12306 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The extended public comment period was scheduled to close on February 2, 2006. OEHHA has received additional requests from interested parties seeking further extension of the comment period to allow for the submission of complete and relevant scientific information. OEHHA hereby extends the public comment period for (2,4-dichlorphenoxy) acetic acid; 2,4-D n-butyl ester; 2,4-D isopropyl ester; 2,4-D isooctyl ester; propylene gylcol butyl ether ester (of 2,4-D); 2,4-D butoxyethanol ester; and 2,4-D dimethylamine salt for 45 days to 5 p.m., Monday, March 20, 2006.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today unveiled a major revision to the format of prescription drug information, commonly called the package insert, to give healthcare professionals clear and concise prescribing information. In an effort to manage the risks of medication use and reduce medical errors, the newly designed package insert will provide the most up-to-date information in an easy-to-read format that draws physician and patient attention to the most important pieces of drug information before a product is prescribed. The new format will also make prescription information more accessible for use with electronic prescribing tools and other electronic information resources.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has filed a consent agreement and final order with Baleco International, North Bend, Ohio, on alleged violations of federal rules on the distribution and sale of pesticides. A $15,000 penalty has been assessed against the company as part of the settlement.

According to EPA, Baleco sold and distributed unregistered, adulterated and misbranded pesticides from its facility at 3200 State Line Road. The products are 30% Algaecide-1999, 30% Algaecide-2001, 3″ Tablets-2001, 1″ Tablets-2001 and Chlorinating Granules-2001. Ohio Department of Agriculture inspectors cooperated with EPA in the investigation.

EPA registers all pesticides and pesticide products under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India’s government to improve the safety of consumer products exported to the U.S from India.

CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton and Labanyendu Mansingh, India’s Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, signed the agreement at CPSC Headquarters in Bethesda, Md.

The agreement calls for an exchange of information on consumer product safety, the development of training programs dealing with consumer product safety, and an exchange of officials, experts and professionals to carry out consumer safety programs.

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EPA is amending the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 8(a) Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) regulations. The IUR currently requires manufacturers (including importers) of certain chemical substances listed on the TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory to report data on chemical manufacturing, processing, and use every 4 years. In this amendment, EPA is extending the reporting cycle, modifying the timing of the submission period, further clarifying the new partial exemption for specific chemicals for which certain IUR data are of low current interest, amending the petroleum refinery process streams partial exemption, amending the list of consumer and commercial product categories, revising the manner in which production volume would be reported, restricting reporting of processing and use information to domestic processing and use activities only, clarifying the polymer exemption definition, and removing a provision regarding the confidentiality of production volume within specified ranges.

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