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
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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
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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
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