Replacement Parts Availability Act

Key Points

• Congress would generally exempt replacement parts for older, complex products from new toxic chemical restrictions.
• EPA could still regulate a replacement part, but only if a risk review shows the part itself adds a big health risk and EPA puts that in writing.
• If replacement parts are left out of a risk review, the rule would count as EPA’s final decision to exclude those parts for older product designs.
• The bill would stop EPA from cutting off a chemical needed to make exempt replacement parts, but would require limits so only replacement-part makers can use it.
• If EPA does restrict a replacement part under the exception, the bill would require at least a 10-year transition period before the restriction fully kicks in.