While TSCA has been a significant step forward, it has faced criticisms and challenges over the years. One major criticism is that the original TSCA did not provide the EPA with sufficient authority to demand data or regulate chemicals effectively. This led to the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act in 2016, which amended TSCA to strengthen the EPA's ability to evaluate and regulate chemicals.
Another challenge is the sheer volume of chemicals that need to be assessed. With tens of thousands of chemicals in commercial use, prioritizing and evaluating each one is a monumental task.
