Aftermarket Insider Issue 82 - (Page 8)

govErNMENt AffAirS cause for concern “Chemicals of Concern” in California The California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) has been moving full-throttle toward regulating chemicals that can cause harm to the public and are contained in consumer products. After a two-year delay, the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) regulation’s finality is imminent and when applied to products made or sold in California, it could have a dramatic impact on not just the automotive chemicals segment, but the manufacturing, remanufacturing and repair of automotive components as well. At its most basic, the SCP requires DTSC to identify “chemicals of concern” that data indicates could cause the most harm to public 8 | AFTERMARKET INSIDER | VOLUME 82 health. Products containing those chemicals are put into a list, evaluated for how much harm they could cause and then prioritized for further testing and “next steps.” The regulation has different responsibility levels for four different players, or “responsible entities,” involved with a product identified for regulation: manufacturer, importer, assembler and retailer. Each has a specific definition and varying levels of requirements in order to address a “chemical of concern” that is identified by the DTSC. as a “part, piece, assembly or subassembly,” a company does not have to manufacture the full final item sold to be determined to be the responsible manufacturer. Additionally, a remanufacture or material alteration to a part that increases the level of the “chemical of concern” could qualify your company for this definition. Manufacturers may be responsible for all four stages of responding to the DTSC. These responsibilities could include: notifications, reports, alternative analysis and regulatory response. This process can be time-consuming Parts Manufacturers and cost millions of dollars per “chemical of concern.” Results could Manufacturers are the primary “responsible entity.” Since the regulation range from no change, to new labeling requirements, use of a substitute currently defines a consumer product http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/GreenChemistryInitiative/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aftermarket Insider Issue 82

Aftermarket Insider Issue 82
Contents
President’s Message
Segment News
Essential Information
Company Profile
Government Affairs
Member Profile
Toolbox
Inside Technology
Software Piracy in the Aftermarket
Head of the Class
Market Intelligence

Aftermarket Insider Issue 82