CHEMICAL DATA REPORTING &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency FACT SHEET: BASIC INFORMATION 2012 CDR Data Overview 7,690 chemicals 4,785 sites 1,626 companies Chemicals are used to make most of the products that we rely on in our daily lives. When used safely, chemicals significantly contribute to the improvement of our quality of life, health, and well-being. With such widespread use of chemicals, we need to understand the risks that chemicals may pose. Since 1976, EPA has been responsible for protecting the public from potential chemical exposure risks under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). To carry out this responsibility set forth by Congress, EPA collects information on the types and quantities of chemicals produced in the United States under the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) requirements in section 8 of TSCA. This fact sheet highlights key information about CDR, including what data are collected and how the data are used. Background Under the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule, EPA collects manufacturing, processing, and use information about chemicals in commerce in the United States. For the 2012 CDR submission period, manufacturers (including importers) of certain chemicals were required to report information about those chemicals manufactured (including imported) in amounts of 25,000 pounds or more at each of their sites during calendar year 2011. Why Does EPA Collect Data on Chemicals? CDR constitutes the most comprehensive source of basic screening-level, exposure-related information on chemicals available to EPA. The data allows EPA to construct an in-depth picture of the types, amount, end uses, and possible exposure to chemicals in commerce. The data includes information on the manufacture (including import), industrial processing and use, and consumer and commercial use of certain chemicals currently listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory), which is a list of chemicals that are manufactured (including imported) or processed in the United States. EPA uses the data to inform chemical risk screening, assessment, priority setting, and management activities. The CDR data described in thisfactsheet is a sub-set of the complete CDR data because confidential business information is not included. The figures presented herein may be an underestimate. Basics Fact Sheet EPA Publication 740K13001 page 1 June 2014 ------- CHEMICAL DATA REPORTING &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency The Basics Who reported in 2012? Manufacturers (including importers) of chemicals that are listed on the TSCA Inventory and produced in volumes of 25,000 pounds or more at a site during calendar year 2011 were required to report. When was reporting required? The 2012 submission period closed on August 13, 2012. The current reporting frequency is every four years. The next submission period will be in 2016. The submission period prior to 2012 was in 2006. What was reported in 2012? • 2010 and 2011 annual production volume of each reportable chemical • Additional manufacturing information for 2011 • Processing and use data for 2011 for all reportable chemicals when 2011 site-specific production volume equaled or exceeded 100,000 pounds. Note: Processing and use data include both industrial (e.g., chemical-specific industrial function categories, number of sites) and consumer and commercial use information (e.g., chemical-specific product categories, whether the chemical was used in products intended for children). How Does EPA Use the Data? EPA uses the data gathered from CDRto support many health, safety, and environmental protection activities related to chemical manufacturing. Processing and use information will help EPA, other agencies, and the general public to readily screen and prioritize chemicals for the purpose of identifying potential human health and environmental exposure and risks. What's Different from the Data Collection in 2006? To improve the information reported, beginning with the 2012 CDR submission period, manufacturers (including importers) were subject to revised reporting requirements. CDR's improved reporting requirements will enhance the Agency's ability to more effectively identify and address potential risks. Some of the significant changes in reporting requirements are: Manufacturers (including importers) were required to report production volume for 2011 (in addition to 2010) and additional manufacturing information, such as volume used on site, volume exported, and whether the chemical was recycled. The CDR data described in thisfactsheet is a sub-set of the complete CDR data because confidential business information is not included. The figures presented herein may be an underestimate. Basics Fact Sheet EPA Publication 740K13001 page 2 June 2014 ------- CHEMICAL DATA REPORTING &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency • The production volume reporting threshold for processing and use information was lowered to 100,000 pounds or greater from 300,000 pounds or greater. • A revised list of consumer and commercial product categories were used to report consumer and commercial uses separately, to distinguish between the use types and to allow EPA and the public to better understand what is in children's products. For the purposes of CDR, "consumer use" means the use of a chemical or a mixture containing a chemical (including as part of a manufactured item, or article, such as furniture or clothing) when sold to or made available to consumers for their use. "Commercial use" means the use of a chemical or a mixture containing a chemical (including as part of an article) in a commercial enterprise, such as dry cleaning. "Industrial use" means use at a site at which one or more chemicals or mixtures are manufactured (including imported) or processed. • Upfront substantiation was required for confidentiality claims for each processing and use data element, consistent with previous requirements for confidentiality claims for chemical and site identity. Comparison between 2006 and 2012 Submission Periods Number of... Total Form U's Reported* Companies Reporting Sites Reporting Chemicals Reported Chemicals Reported as Domestically Manufactured Chemicals Reported as Imported Chemicals with Downstream Processing and Use Information Chemicals with Reported Industrial Process and Use Information Chemicals with Reported Consumer/Commercial Use Information (total) Consumer Use Only** Commercial Use Only** Commercial and Consumer Use Chemicals Reported as Used in Children's Products 2006 4,351 1,677 4,351 7,080 4,388 2,886 3,635 3,591 2,547 - - 2,547 215 2012 4,785 1,626 4,785 7,690 5,115 3,568 5,666 5,594 3,271 179 1,574 1,518 355 * Manufacturers (including importers) are required to submit one "Form U" report per site. Where more than one chemical is produced at a site, the report contains information for multiple chemicals. **This information was not separately reported in 2006. For additional information: http://www.epa.gov/cdr/pubs/guidance/basic.html http://www.epa.gov/cdr/pubs/guidance/aboutsub.html The CDR data described in thisfactsheet is a sub-set of the complete CDR data because confidential business information is not included. The figures presented herein may be an underestimate. Basics Fact Sheet EPA Publication 740K13001 pageS June 2014 ------- |