BPIA participated in the U.S. EPA’s 2016 Safer Choice Partner and Stakeholder Summit in Washington, DC. EPA created the Safer Choice label to help residents, businesses, and communities to find products with safer ingredients. When you see the Safer Choice label, it means that every ingredient in the product has been evaluated by EPA scientists.

Speakers at the Summit included EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Jim Jones.

Summit topics included Enhancing the Safer Chemicals Ingredients List (SCIL) and Cultivating the Safer Chemistry Supply Chain. SCIL is a list of chemical ingredients, arranged by functional-use class, that the Safer Choice program has evaluated and determined to be safer than traditional chemical ingredients. This list is designed to help manufacturers and others find safer chemical alternatives that meet the criteria of the Safer Choice program.

When asked about adding new active ingredients to the Safer Choice program, representatives of the program indicated that they have had conversations with the Office of Pesticide Programs, but there are no specific plans and there is a need for industry supporters. This appears to be an opportunity for BPIA members.