SNURs

SNURs, or Significant New Uses for Specific Chemicals, are regulatory rules issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). They designate certain chemical substances and their particular uses as significant new uses, meaning that any proposed manufacture, processing, or import of the chemical for a listed use requires prior notice to EPA. The authority comes from TSCA Section 5(a)(2) and the rules are codified in 40 CFR Part 721.

Purpose and scope

SNURs are designed to give EPA advance notice and an opportunity to assess risks before a chemical is used in a new way or at higher levels of exposure. They can cover existing chemicals on the TSCA Inventory and specify new or altered uses, concentrations, production volumes, or exposure scenarios that would trigger a SNUN (Significant New Use Notice).

Process and EPA action

If a company intends to manufacture, process, or import a chemical for a listed significant new use, it must submit a SNUN to EPA at least 90 days before initiating the activity. EPA reviews the SNUN and may impose testing requirements, limitations, or prohibitions, or may approve the use with conditions. If the use is not listed as a significant new use, a SNUN is not required.

Relationship to other TSCA processes

SNURs differ from the premanufacture notice (PMN) process for novel chemicals; SNURs focus on specific uses of existing chemicals and require notification before those uses occur. They are updated periodically as new information or uses emerge. Compliance is mandatory, and violations can carry penalties.

See also: TSCA, 40 CFR Part 721, premanufacture notices.

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