Companies Must Now Warn EPA Before New Chemical Uses
Published Date: 5/22/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA is setting new rules that require companies to tell them 90 days before making or using certain chemicals in new ways. This gives the EPA time to check if those new uses are safe before they start. These rules kick in on July 21, 2026, and affect anyone making or importing these specific chemicals, so plan ahead to avoid delays or extra costs!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
SNUN Submission Costs and Time
Submitting a Significant New Use Notice (SNUN) has estimated costs of about $45,000 per submission for large-business submitters and about $14,500 per submission for qualifying small-business submitters. The required user fee is $37,000 for standard submitters or a reduced fee of $6,480 for qualifying small businesses, and EPA estimates 30 to 170 hours of staff time per submission.
90-Day Pre-Notice and Wait Rule
If you plan to manufacture, import, or process any of the listed chemical substances for a use designated as a "significant new use," you must notify EPA at least 90 days before starting. You may not begin that manufacture or processing until EPA reviews the notice and makes a determination; this rule is effective July 21, 2026.
Workplace PPE and Hazard Rules
The SNURs add workplace protection and hazard-communication rules for the listed chemicals, including minimum respirator performance levels (for example, NIOSH Assigned Protection Factor (APF) requirements of at least 1,000, 50, or 10 for specific substances, and APF 1,000 if spray applied). The rules also list required hazard warnings (e.g., acute toxicity, skin corrosion, reproductive toxicity) and recordkeeping obligations for manufacturers, importers, and processors.
Export Notification One-Time Cost
If you export a substance covered by these SNURs, you must provide a one-time export notice to EPA for the first export or intended export to each country. EPA estimates the per-notification cost at approximately $106.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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