US environmental regulators will charge chemical makers for risk assessments

The US environmental regulators will charge chemical manufacturers for the cost of assessing the risks of five high-priority chemicals. Companies that make or import these chemicals must now identify themselves to the agency, or risk fines.

For years, the public paid for chemical risk assessments. Now, the companies that profit from making these chemicals will pay a portion of the cost. This shifts the financial burden and creates a direct incentive for manufacturers to engage with the assessment process, or even reduce their exposure to these chemicals.