Update on the Status of TSCA Risk Management Rule for TCE
Released Nov. 13, 2025
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is further postponing the effective date of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 6(g) exemption requirements in the final risk management rule for trichloroethylene (TCE) until February 2026. This will ensure that the timing of EPA's administrative stay aligns with the court's timeframe for this action.
On Dec. 17, 2024, EPA issued the final rule prohibiting all uses of TCE, most of which were prohibited by Sept. 15, 2025, including TCE manufacturing and processing for most commercial uses and all consumer products. EPA has received multiple petitions for review of the final rule.
On Jan.13, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion to temporarily stay the rule's effective date. The petitions were then consolidated by the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation and transferred to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. By an order dated Jan.16, 2025, the Third Circuit left the temporary administrative stay of the effective date in place, pending further order of the court. On March 28, 2025, the court lifted that administrative stay for all portions of the rule except for the provisions for the TSCA section 6(g) exemptions.
EPA previously delayed the effective date of the requirements imposed on each of the TSCA section 6(g) exemptions in the final TCE rule until Nov. 17, 2025, and is now further postponing the effective date of these requirements until Feb. 17, 2026.