The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice on June 28, 2019, announcing that the EPA Safer Choice Program is accepting submissions for its 2019 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards.  84 Fed. Reg. 31066.  The Safer Choice Program partners with businesses and others to help consumers and commercial buyers identify products with safer chemical ingredients, “without sacrificing quality or performance.”  Toward this end, according to EPA, the Safer Choice Program certifies products containing ingredients that have met the Program's “specific and rigorous human health and environmental toxicological criteria.”  The Safer Choice Program allows the use of its label on products that perform and contain safer ingredients, as determined by expert evaluation. 

According to EPA, recognition by the Safer Choice Program represents a high level of achievement in formulating products that are safer for people and the environment.  EPA states that the purpose of the Partner of the Year Awards “is to recognize the leadership contributions of Safer Choice partners and stakeholders who, over the past year, have shown outstanding achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, and use of products with safer chemicals.”  All Safer Choice stakeholders and Program participants in good standing are eligible for recognition.  According to the notice, interested parties must inform the Program that they would like to be considered for an award and submit supporting information.  Submissions are due July 31, 2019.  EPA will recognize award winners at a Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards ceremony in fall 2019.