Great Lakes works closely with U.S. federal legislators and regulatory agencies (e.g., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), as well as with the Competent Authorities (CAs) in the Member States of the European Union and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Japan. We also work closely with legislators in the capitols of all 50 U.S. states to ensure easy access to the best fire safety, health, and environmental information. Great Lakes is committed to working with global regulators to ensure the highest levels of fire safety while addressing both human and health concerns. We are committed to supporting, funding and participating in research and risk studies concerning our products. Great Lakes has been actively involved in the European Risk Assessment process , and we have worked closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine the potential risks related to the use of PBDEs.

Regulatory Highlights

EU Member states voted on April 19 on the Commission's proposal for a decision to exempt the flame retardant Deca-BDE from the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.  The majority of EU Member States votes were in favor of Deca-BDE's exemption from the RoHS Directive.  Read the full statement from the European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel.

The EPA has recently completed a preliminary assessment of a Penta substitute, Firemaster® 550, and concluded that this alternative chemical is not persistent, bioaccumulative or toxic. . . Read the full EPA Statement.

The Deca-PBDE Risk Assessment was concluded in a meeting of the Competent Authority in May, 2004. It was found that Deca-PBDE posed no risk to human health or the environment and therefore, is approved for all applications without restriction.

In the U.S. , the National Academy of Sciences reported in 2000 that the use of deca-BDE in textile applications was acceptable and posed little risk to adults or children. For more information, please see: Toxicological Risks of Selected Flame-Retardant Chemicals (2000), Commission on Life Sciences. National Academy Press.

In 2003, the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Panel (VCCEP) Risk Assessment submitted by industry (and later reviewed by a panel of independent experts) found that deca-BDE poses no significant risk to children's health. In 1994, the World Health Organization concluded of deca-BDE that “[The] risk to the general population from [deca] is considered to be insignificant", and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission concluded: “[Deca] is not likely to present a hazard to consumers.”

Asia The Law Concerning the Examination and Regulation of Manufacture etc. of Chemical Substances (the Chemical Substances Control Law) was adopted in the 1970s in order to control and manage appropriately the environmental risk posed by any chemicals produced in Japan or imported. More . . .		Europe European Member States have to set up E&E waste collection facilities by 13 August 2005. Individual Member States are already starting to put legislative frameworks in place. E&E manufacturers or recyclers acting on their behalf will have to reach recovery and re-cycling target by 31 December 2006. More. . .
United States Thanks to new product technology, Great Lakes Chemical Corporation announces that it will cease production of Penta-PBDE Flame Retardant by end of 2004. More . . .