a Federal law that empowers EPA to require the chemical industry to test chemicals and provide safety information before they are sold

A law requiring the assessment of the potential hazards of a chemical before the chemical is put on the market.

(TSCA) This law, passed in 1976, requires tests of chemicals that may harm human health or the environment; reviews of new chemical substances; limits on the availability of some existing chemicals; and import certification standards to ensure that imported chemicals comply with domestic rules. TSCA bars the introduction of chemicals that may pose unreasonable risks to people or the environment, when the risks outweigh possible economic and social benefits. TSCA also regulates existing chemicals, particularly polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). For PCBs and a few other chemicals, TSCA prohibits or limits use and regulates handling, storage and disposal.