EPA Tweaks Chemical Rules to Sync with OSHA Standards
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA is updating hazardous chemical reporting rules to match OSHA’s new 2024 safety standards. This helps businesses report chemicals more clearly and keeps first responders and communities safer. These changes start January 16, 2026, and affect anyone filing chemical reports for 2026, with no extra costs expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More detailed hazard categories for communities
EPA replaces the shorter set of EPCRA hazard categories with the full set of OSHA 2024 hazard classes and their categories (expanding from the prior set to 112 OSHA hazard categories) so emergency planners, first responders, and communities get more specific hazard information. EPA says this will improve first responder and community safety and let facilities copy hazard categories directly from Section 2 of Safety Data Sheets.
Facilities must use OSHA 2024 hazard terms
If you own or operate a facility that must prepare a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), you must use the updated OSHA Hazard Communication Standard classifications and SDS terminology for EPCRA sections 311 and 312 reports. This rule is effective January 16, 2026, compliance is tied to the 2026 reporting year (compliance date December 1, 2026), and reports for calendar year 2026 are due by March 1, 2027.
MSDS replaced by SDS and clarity edits
EPA removes the term Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and uses Safety Data Sheet (SDS) throughout the EPCRA reporting rules, moves definitions into 40 CFR 370.3, and makes plain-language and formatting edits to improve readability. EPA states these clarifying edits are intended to reduce confusion and interpretation burdens without increasing regulatory costs.
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