On July 30, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to establish Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) for 14 chemical substances previously subject to premanufacture notices (PMNs). The 14 regulated chemical substances span multiple sectors, including industrial catalysts, fragrance ingredients, electronic materials, and nanomaterials.
Chemical Substances Covered
- P-21-7 / P-21-8: Aluminum oxo-zirconium reaction products (catalysts)
- P-21-36: 5-Hexen-2-one derivative (household fragrance, annual production limited to 50,000 kg, concentration limited to 1%)
- P-21-59: Ytterbium trifluoromethanesulfonate salt (stabilizer, liquid formulations only)
- P-21-185: Ethyl cyclohexenyl propionate (fragrance ingredient)
- P-24-27: Fatty acid mannopyranoside ester (industrial cleaner, concentration limited to 5%)
- P-24-86 / P-24-87: Turbostratic graphene (3–9 layers and approximately 32 layers, for batteries, electronics, and construction materials)
- P-24-196: 2-Pyrrolidone polymer with 2-oxepanone (building coating additive, annual production limited to 10,000 kg)
- P-25-15: Modified tall oil fatty acid polyamine condensate (paving additive)
- P-25-25: Carbon monocyclic alcohol compounds (photolithography use)
- P-25-77: tert-Butylarsine (semiconductor manufacturing)
- P-25-126 / P-25-127: Sulfonate compounds for photoresists (import only)
Core Regulatory Requirements
Authorized under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), once the rule is finalized, any entity intending to manufacture (including import) or process any of these 14 chemical substances for a "significant new use" must submit a Significant New Use Notice (SNUN) to the EPA at least 90 days before commencing the activity. The relevant manufacturing or processing activities may not begin until the EPA completes its review and makes a risk determination.
A "significant new use" refers primarily to any manner of manufacture, processing, use, commercial distribution, or disposal that does not comply with the protective measures specified in existing TSCA orders. These protective measures typically include: closed-system process operations, personal protective equipment requirements, inhalation exposure controls, water discharge limits, annual production caps, finished product concentration limits, and hazard communication procedures.
Public Comment
Members of the public may submit comments on this proposed rule through August 31, 2026. Comments must be submitted via the Regulations.gov website under Docket No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2026-2707. The EPA specifically reminds commenters that content involving Confidential Business Information (CBI) should not be submitted directly via email or the website.
