The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is continuing to build out an online portal where authorized users can access a variety of information about chemicals in consumer products.
The project, which is centered on the Safer Consumer Products Information Management System (CalSAFER), is currently on schedule and will add new features in early 2017.
“We’ve already implemented three key functions: 1) a searchable online database of the chemicals covered under our regulations, 2) a module for the public and other stakeholders to submit petitions to us about products and chemicals of interest, and 3) a module to manage public comments,” said Meredith Williams, deputy director of DTSC’s Safer Consumer and Workplaces Program, in an email to Techwire.
According to a 2016 project update, development work has been divided into nine separate features, each being developed in three- to four-week sprints. ENS is the IT consulting firm working on the $3.8 million project, which began in 2013. The project is more than 90 percent done.
CalSAFER was designed to accept reports from chemical manufacturers. Users can view these documents and comment on proposed regulations, and submit petitions to add or remove chemicals. Website visitors also can search for Candidate Chemicals — defined as chemicals that show a “hazard trait” — as well as Priority Products, which contain more than one Candidate Chemical.
The portal is being developed to comply with California’s 2013 Safer Consumer Products regulations require manufacturers to seek “safer” alternatives to harmful chemical ingredients in widely used products.
“Our regulations specify that we accept information electronically, so the system is vital,” Williams said. “This program relies on a transparent process which includes multiple stages requiring public and stakeholder input. CalSAFER facilitates this by allowing easy access to regulatory documents, including those generated by manufacturers, and makes it easy for stakeholders to review and comment on those documents. Our comment tool is the only online tool that we’re aware of at CalEPA to manage the rule-making comments process. We have used it to manage three public comment periods, and it made it much easier for us to review comments and respond. This has also allowed us to be transparent and responsive.
The modules the Department of Toxic Substances Control plans to make fully functional in early 2017 are for posting documents about Priority Products and containing Chemicals of Concern, listing responsible entities, and submitting notifications.
