Regulations of Uses of Methylene Chloride and N-Methylpyrrolidone (US)

On January 19, 2017 the U.S. EPA proposed prohibition on the manufacture, import, processing, and distribution in commerce of methylene chloride and N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) for consumer and most types of commercial paint and coating removal under section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA is also proposing prohibition of these two chemical for commercial uses and to require manufacturers, importers, processors, and distributors, except for retailers, for any use to provide downstream notification of these prohibitions throughout the supply chain (through Safety Data Sheets). EPA is also proposing an initial ten-year time-limited exemption from these proposed regulations on methylene chloride for coating removal uses critical for national security.

With respect to the regulation of NMP, EPA is proposing two different options to reduce the risks presented by NMP in paint and coating removal for consumers and commercial users. In the first option, EPA is proposing that commercial users of NMP for paint and coating removal establish a worker protection program for dermal and respiratory protection and not use paint and coating removal products that contain greater than 35 percent NMP by weight (except for product formulations to be used by the Department of Defense (DoD) or its contractors performing work only for DoD projects). The second option will require processors of products containing NMP for paint and coating removal to reformulate products so that they do not exceed a maximum of 35 percent NMP by weight, identify gloves that provide effective protection for formulation, and provide warning and instruction labels on the products.

Comments must be received on or before April 19, 2017 at http://www.regulations.gov referencing EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0231.

Sources:

U.S. EPA Proposes Regulations of Uses of Methylene Chloride and N-Methylpyrrolidone Under TSCA Section 6(a), 82 FR 7464 (2016).