Benefits of Membership

 

For States With Toxics in Packaging Legislation

State toxics in packaging laws are all based on the Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation, which provides states with the opportunity to communicate through a single organization and undertake projects with a shared goal of reducing toxic metals in packaging.

The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) greatly extends the outreach and programmatic capabilities of states, and reduces redundancy. TPCH provides multiple services to states in a cost effective manner, while fostering consistency across states in the implementation of state toxics in packaging laws. For example, TPCH:

• Serves as a central point of contact for the public and regulated community, responding to inquiries and maintaining an informative website.
• Provides a forum for dialogue among states with legislation and between states and advisory members on a variety of topics, including determinations of what is and is not a package under state laws.
• Develops and distributes outreach materials – from fact sheets to reports and press releases.
• Undertakes periodic screening projects to assess compliance with state laws, identify outreach needs, and raise awareness of the continued use of restricted metals in packaging.
• Coordinates member requests to manufacturers or distributors for Certificates of Compliance when violations are suspected, and coordinates ongoing communications with the manufacturers/distributors until members states are satisfied that packaging is in compliance with state laws.
• Researches issues and publishes reports, which in the past included the evaluation of appropriate test methods for determining heavy metals concentration in difficult to analyze packaging materials.
• Coordinates requests for exemptions between manufacturers/distributors and member states.

 

For Advisory Members

Only state members of the TPCH are allowed to vote on TPCH actions. However, the TPCH typically includes Advisory Members in their deliberations and discussions to reach consensus agreements.

TPCH membership provides Advisory Member with the opportunity to:

• Discuss queries from the public and the regulated community on such topics as the model legislation, how to comply with state requirements, packaging interpretations, and requests for exemptions.
• Participate in monthly conference calls and annual meetings of the TPCH. Topics covered in these meetings include research and compliance screening project findings, education and outreach, plus the issues stated above.
• Directly access state members allowing for discussion and resolution of industry concerns and questions about the Model and state laws.
• Receive first-hand guidance from the states on how to achieve compliance in an efficient manner in order to minimize disruptive design and manufacturing issues.
• Provide input to state members of the TPCH on how to communicate to the regulated community the purposes and requirements of state laws.
• Provide direct updates to the state members on industry activities and initiative as they relate to the regulated metals.
• Provide comments, input and technical expertise on screening and testing project goals, design and reports.

For Affiliate Members

State government agencies without toxics in packaging legislation and foreign governments benefit from participating in the TPCH as Affiliate Members.

Affiliate membership provides these government entities an opportunity to:

• Stay abreast of developments in toxics in packaging alongside states with legislation such as research and compliance screening project findings.
• Attend monthly conference calls and annual meetings.
• Receive first-hand guidance from the states on drafting and implementation of toxics in packaging laws.