Proposed Expansion of the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment Programs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an expansion of the Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) programs to include certification of additional product categories. Safer Choice and DfE are voluntary EPA programs that help consumers, businesses, and purchasers find cleaning and disinfectant products that perform and meet stringent EPA criteria for effects on human health and the environment.
Given the increasing consumer interest in chemicals used in products, EPA is working to expand its certification programs to include additional product categories, reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to safeguarding human health, addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and advancing environmental justice. The Agency is seeking input on which new product categories Safer Choice and DfE could expand into and how the potential expansion offers significant benefit to human health and the environment.
EPA held a listening session webinar on August 29, 2023, to gather stakeholder feedback on the types of additional products the Safer Choice or DfE programs could certify. EPA is also accepting written comment through September 11, 2023.
EPA will use the public input received in writing to guide the development and implementation of the expansion of its Safer Choice and/or DfE programs.
On this page:
August 29, 2023, Virtual Listening Session
Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT
This virtual listening session included an overview from EPA on its proposed expansion of its Safer Choice and/or DfE programs to certify additional product types, followed by a Q&A session during which participants submitted questions and comments and suggested potential product categories.
View comments from the listening session:
EPA Safer Choice and DfE Listening Session Chat Record (pdf)
View slides from the listening session:
Expanding Safer Choice and Design for the Environment (DfE) Listening Session Slides (pdf)
For further information, please contact Taylor Dunivin at dunivin.taylor@epa.gov.
Submitting Written Comments
All written comments should be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0311 by September 11, 2023. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is available at epa.gov/dockets.