Voluntary action

EPA plans to follow up on selected new chemicals during the commercialization phase. This program will be focused on those chemicals of concern as well as those for which there is uncertainty concerning toxic effects. Unrestricted commercialization could lead to substantial increases in exposure so that it may be necessary to reassess the risk through additional testing. TSCA grants EPA the authority to do so under Sections 5(a)(2) and 8(a) but voluntary action will be sought where appropriate. 

Under the new administration, this section of TSCA has come under the scrutiny of Vice President Bush s task force on regulatory relief and the Office of Toxic Substances is placing a high priority on efforts to develop more cost-effective means for achieving industry compliance with OTS policies. In addition to fostering voluntary actions by industry wherever possible in lieu of formal rules, these effects include elimination of unnecessary burdens on industry in complying with mandated TSCA requirements. 

While the proactive efforts of some of industry demonstrate that substitution is indeed feasible, voluntary action will not solve the global problem of chemical contamination. Such action needs to be universal and across all industry sectors and size of firms. Industry needs clear criteria in which to operate and innovate. In particular, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) need clear criteria to chart their way forward in a competitive economy. 

The lead investigator is responsible for the preparation of the EIR. Other members of the inspection team may be called upon to participate in its preparation, however, particularly in supplying specialized scientific or technical information. The field investigator and the supervisor at the district office will tentatively classify the completed EIR under one of the following three categories No Action Indicated (NAI), Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI), or Official Action Indicated (OAI). 

Prior to December 1993, the classifications VAI-1, VAI-2, and VAI-3 were used to characterize the GLP comphance of an inspected facility. The category VAI means voluntary action indicated. The numerals 1, 2, and 3 formerly indicated degrees of failure to comply with the GLP regulations VAI-1 meant that the violations were minor and may have been corrected before the inspections was concluded, and VAI-2 indicated that minor procedural deficiencies were found that did not threaten to compromise the validity of any studies done under those circumstances. Those GLP inspections that were formerly classified VAI-1 and 2 are now termed VAI. 

In addition to providing a form FDA-483, FDA investigators prepare an establishment inspection report (EIR), which is sent to FDA headquarters, which then evaluates the report and determines the corrective action, if any. The FDA then classifies the inspection as no action indicated, voluntary action indicated, or official action indicated. The EIR contains much greater detail than contained in the 483 and is not provided to the manufacturer until after the inspection is deemed closed. 

Mushiake, H., Saito, N., Sakamoto, K., Itoyama, Y., and Tanji, J. (2006). Activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex reflects multiple steps of future events in action plans. Neuron 50, 631—641. Newell, A., and Simon, H. A. (1972). Human Problem Solving. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Passinsrham, R. E. (1993). The Frontal Lobes and Voluntary Action. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. 

Some individuals don t understand comparative risks. They can accept the risk of a lifetime of smoking (a voluntary action), which is gravely serious act, and driving a motorcycle (one of the most dangerous forms of transportation), but they insist in protesting a nuclear power plant that, according to risk experts, has a negligible risk. 

BEYOND COMMAND AND CONTROL VOLUNTARY ACTIONS AND INCENTIVES FOR THE CHEMICALS INDUSTRY... 

This article aims to answer three key questions, namely, (1) Are there voluntary actions by the industry (2) is there recognition of this contribution by governments and, (3) how can these contributions be further encouraged and their impact improved ... 

Voluntary Actions by the Industry helping achieve the goal of safe global management of chemicals... 

Verbist, D (2006). Beyond Command and Control Voluntary Action and incentives for the Chemicals Industry. Asia-Europe Environment Forum 4th Roundtable Combine or Combust Co-operating on Chemicals and Hazardous Substances management. 30 November - 1 December, Brussels, Belgium. 

Moderator Mr. Philippe Bergeron Member of the Board Regional Institute for Environmental Technology Beyond Command and Control Voluntary Action and Incentives for the Chemicals Industry Questions Are there voluntary actions by the industry and is there recognition of this contribution by governments What are the impacts of such actions and how can these be further encouraged Mr. Daniel Verbist Executive Director Build Trust ft Communications European Chemicals Industry Council... 

The FDA Web site contains a list of the testing facilities that have been inspected since October 1,1989 [39], The list provides the current name and former (if known) names of the testing facility, the dates the facility has been inspected, and the classification of the inspection results. Active toxicology laboratories, university laboratories, foreign laboratories, and inactive laboratories are listed. The list is updated quarterly. The most common outcome of inspections include NAI (no action indicated), VAI (voluntary action indicated), and OAI (official action indicated). For inspections with an OAI classification, regulatory and administrative actions will be recommended. Warning letters may or may not be issued with an OAI classification. 

The Toxic Substance Control Act is a nearly perfect realisation of the old approaches and is clearly outdated. The EPA has been somewhat successful with stimulating voluntary action, but that is far from sufficient, judging from the results in relation to expectations. Previous EU chemicals legislation was permeated by many of the same problems, and it is obvious that the designers of REACH have learned important lessons from the past.33... 

Government decides on the necessity for risk management measures or voluntary action by industry. 

Austgen, D., Transitioning to a Hydrogen Fuel Infrastructure, paper presented at the 3rd API Conference on the Oil and Gas Industry s Voluntary Actions to Address Climate Change, September 29, 2004, information available at www.api-ec.api.org. 

As figure 3-H indicates, in addition to the CNS (brain and spinal cord) the nervous system contains a further division, the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Within the PNS is the somatic division, which controls voluntary action of the skeletal muscles and carries information from sensory organs to the CNS. 

Energy was newly stipulated to promote the introduction of new types of energy. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of promoting voluntary action by industry, the industrial enviromnent vision was revised centering on measures against the climate change problem. 

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