US environmental regulators will now let some chemicals skip new use reviews

The US environmental regulators are changing rules for some chemicals, making it easier to introduce them without extra review. This means certain chemicals can be used in new ways without companies needing to tell the government first.

For decades, the US environmental regulators have required companies to notify them before using certain chemicals in new ways. This was meant to catch potential problems before they became widespread. This change means that for some chemicals, that extra layer of scrutiny is gone. Companies can now deploy these chemicals in new applications without the same level of oversight, potentially speeding up product development but also shifting the burden of discovery onto the public.