The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is a United States law that regulates the manufacture, importation, processing, distribution, and disposal of chemicals. Enacted in 1976, the TSCA is the primary federal law governing chemical safety and has undergone significant changes in recent years to address the growing concerns about chemical safety and environmental protection.

The TSCA is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and provides the agency with the authority to regulate both new and existing chemicals. Under the TSCA, the EPA has the power to require companies to provide information on the health and environmental effects of their chemicals and to regulate or ban chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.

The TSCA was designed to address the public's concern about the impact of chemicals on human health and the environment. Before the TSCA, there were few laws regulating chemical safety, and even fewer requirements for chemical companies to disclose information about the potential health risks of their products. The TSCA provided the EPA with the power to require companies to provide health and environmental data on their chemicals, and to regulate or ban chemicals that were found to pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.

Over the years, the TSCA has faced criticism from environmental groups and public health advocates who argue that the law is too weak and does not adequately protect human health and the environment. In response to these criticisms, the TSCA was amended in 2016 with the passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.

The Lautenberg Act was designed to strengthen the TSCA and improve the regulation of chemicals in the United States. The new law required the EPA to review and regulate all chemicals in commerce, including those already in use, to ensure that they do not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. It also required companies to provide more health and environmental data on their chemicals and gave the EPA more power to regulate or ban chemicals that are found to be unsafe.

The TSCA and the Lautenberg Act have been critical in protecting the public from the harmful effects of toxic chemicals. However, the law still faces challenges, including the slow pace of chemical regulation and the lack of transparency in the chemical industry. As a result, there is ongoing debate about the need for additional changes to the TSCA to ensure that it continues to effectively protect human health and the environment.

The Toxic Substances Control Act is an essential law for regulating chemicals in the United States. The TSCA has undergone significant changes in recent years to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment. However, ongoing efforts are necessary to ensure that the TSCA continues to evolve with new scientific discoveries and emerging threats to human health and the environment.