EPA Proposes New-Use Notification Rules For 19 Chemicals

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed significant new use rules for 19 chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The notice published on 2 November 2026 sets a 2 December 2026 comment deadline.

The proposal concerns manufacturers, including importers, and processors undertaking activities designated as significant new uses. The listed substances include graphene platelets and two graphene oxide substances, alongside other chemicals identified by their premanufacture-notice numbers.

Notification Before A Significant New Use

If finalised as proposed, the rules would require notification at least 90 days before the designated activity begins. Manufacture or processing for that use could not start until EPA had reviewed the notification, made the required determination and taken any resulting action.

The proposed requirements are substance-specific. EPA identifies departures from protective conditions in existing TSCA orders as significant new uses; the proposal does not create a general prohibition on all uses of the 19 substances.

Existing Orders Provide The Basis

EPA explains that the substances have already undergone premanufacture-notice review and are subject to orders requiring exposure controls. The proposed rules would extend the notification framework beyond the companies bound by those orders. EPA describes a significant-new-use rule as a notification requirement, rather than a risk determination in itself.

Dates Have Different Functions

EPA identifies 2 November 2026 as the cutoff for determining whether a use is ongoing, not as the effective date of a final rule.

The notice separately states that exports or intended exports of covered substances on or after 2 December 2026 are subject to the applicable TSCA section 12(b) export-notification requirements. Comments are accepted under docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2026-5974.