The full brunt of the regulations may take time to reach across the consumer product industry.  However, over time the regulations promise to have wide-sweeping impacts on the way products are made and sold throughout the country.  Businesses that are not prepared could find their products banned from California.  On the other hand, those businesses that are prepared may get a leg up on their competition.  Indeed, as is hoped by its supporters, the mere existence of the regulations may ultimately serve to effectuate change through the design of new products that avoid the prospect of regulation.

Peter R. Duchesneau is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.  His practice focuses on environmental law involving litigation, administrative proceedings, regulatory compliance and business transactions.  He holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and has significant experience with emerging chemicals and counseling clients on regulatory compliance involving green chemistry and other matters. Mr. Duchesneau can be reached at (310) 312-4209 or pduchesneau@manatt.com.

This column is part of a series of articles by law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP’s Energy, Environment & Natural Resources practice. Earlier columns in the third edition of this series discussed Retail Hazardous Waste Reform, Environmental Screening Tools, Nanotechnology Regulation, Federal Chemical Regulation Reform, Efforts to Address Climate Change and What the Sequester Means for Environmental Regulation