---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 2602"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "2602"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/2602"
units:
  - "Chapter 53 — Toxic Substances Control"
  - "Subchapter I — Control of Toxic Substances"
---

# §2602. Definitions


As used in this chapter:

- (1) the[^1] term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
- (2)
  - (A) Except as provided in [subparagraph (B)](#2-B), the term “chemical substance” means any organic or inorganic substance of a particular molecular identity, including—
    - (i) any combination of such substances occurring in whole or in part as a result of a chemical reaction or occurring in nature, and
    - (ii) any element or uncombined radical.
  - (B) Such term does not include—
    - (i) any [mixture](#10),
    - (ii) any pesticide (as defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act [[7 U.S.C. 136](/usc/7/136.md) et seq.]) when manufactured, processed, or distributed in [commerce](#3) for use as a pesticide,
    - (iii) tobacco or any tobacco product,
    - (iv) any source material, special nuclear material, or byproduct material (as such terms are defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 [[42 U.S.C. 2011](/usc/42/2011.md) et seq.] and regulations issued under such Act),
    - (v) any article the sale of which is subject to the tax imposed by section 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [[26 U.S.C. 4181](/usc/26/4181.md)] (determined without regard to any exemptions from such tax provided by section [4182](/usc/26/4182.md) or [4221](/usc/26/4221.md) or any other provision of such Code) and any component of such an article (limited to shot shells, cartridges, and components of shot shells and cartridges), and
    - (vi) any [food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b), [food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b) additive, [drug](/usc/15/55.md?p=c), [cosmetic](/usc/15/55.md?p=e), or [device](/usc/15/55.md?p=d) (as such terms are defined in [section 201](/usc/15/201.md) of the Federal [Food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b), [Drug](/usc/15/55.md?p=c), and Cosmetic Act [[21 U.S.C. 321](/usc/21/321.md)]) when manufactured, processed, or distributed in [commerce](#3) for use as a [food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b), [food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b) additive, [drug](/usc/15/55.md?p=c), [cosmetic](/usc/15/55.md?p=e), or [device](/usc/15/55.md?p=d).

    The term “[food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b)” as used in clause (vi) of this subparagraph includes poultry and poultry products (as defined in sections 4(e) and 4(f) of the Poultry Products Inspection Act [[21 U.S.C. 453(e)](/usc/21/453.md?p=e) and (f)]), meat and meat [food](/usc/15/55.md?p=b) products (as defined in section 1(j) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act [[21 U.S.C. 601(j)](/usc/21/601.md?p=j)]), and eggs and egg products (as defined in section 4 of the Egg Products Inspection Act [[21 U.S.C. 1033](/usc/21/1033.md)]).

- (3) The term “commerce” means trade, traffic, transportation, or other commerce (A) between a place in a [State](#16) and any place outside of such [State](#16), or (B) which affects trade, traffic, transportation, or commerce described in clause (A).
- (4) The term “conditions of use” means the circumstances, as determined by the [Administrator](#1), under which a [chemical substance](#2-A) is intended, known, or reasonably foreseen to be manufactured, processed, distributed in [commerce](#3), used, or disposed of.
- (5) The terms “distribute in commerce” and “distribution in commerce” when used to describe an action taken with respect to a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10) or article containing a substance or [mixture](#10) mean to sell, or the sale of, the substance, [mixture](#10), or article in [commerce](#3); to introduce or deliver for introduction into [commerce](#3), or the introduction or delivery for introduction into [commerce](#3) of, the substance, [mixture](#10), or article; or to hold, or the holding of, the substance, [mixture](#10), or article after its introduction into [commerce](#3).
- (6) The term “environment” includes water, air, and land and the interrelationship which exists among and between water, air, and land and all living things.
- (7) The term “guidance” means any significant written guidance of general applicability prepared by the [Administrator](#1).
- (8) The term “health and safety study” means any study of any effect of a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10) on health or the [environment](#6) or on both, including underlying information and epidemiological studies, studies of occupational exposure to a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10), toxicological, clinical, and ecological studies of a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10), and any test performed pursuant to this chapter.
- (9) The term “manufacture” means to import into the customs territory of the [United States](#17) (as defined in general note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the [United States](#17)), produce, or manufacture.
- (10) The term “mixture” means any combination of two or more [chemical substances](#2-A) if the combination does not occur in nature and is not, in whole or in part, the result of a chemical reaction; except that such term does include any combination which occurs, in whole or in part, as a result of a chemical reaction if none of the [chemical substances](#2-A) comprising the combination is a [new chemical substance](#11) and if the combination could have been manufactured for commercial purposes without a chemical reaction at the time the [chemical substances](#2-A) comprising the combination were combined.
- (11) The term “new chemical substance” means any [chemical substance](#2-A) which is not included in the [chemical substance](#2-A) list compiled and published under [section 2607(b) of this title](/usc/15/2607.md?p=b).
- (12) The term “potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation” means a group of individuals within the general population identified by the [Administrator](#1) who, due to either greater susceptibility or greater exposure, may be at greater risk than the general population of adverse health effects from exposure to a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10), such as infants, children, pregnant women, workers, or the elderly.
- (13) The term “process” means the preparation of a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10), after its [manufacture](#9), for [distribution in commerce](#5)—
  - (A) in the same form or physical [state](#16) as, or in a different form or physical [state](#16) from, that in which it was received by the [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) so preparing such substance or [mixture](#10), or
  - (B) as part of an article containing the [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10).
- (14) The term “processor” means any [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) who [processes](#13) a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10).
- (15) The term “protocols and methodologies for the development of information” means a prescription of—
  - (A) the—
    - (i) health and environmental effects, and
    - (ii) information relating to toxicity, persistence, and other characteristics which affect health and the [environment](#6),

    for which information for a [chemical substance](#2-A) or [mixture](#10) are to be developed and any analysis that is to be performed on such information, and

  - (B) to the extent necessary to assure that information respecting such effects and characteristics are reliable and adequate—
    - (i) the manner in which such information are[^2] to be developed,
    - (ii) the specification of any test protocol or methodology to be employed in the development of such information, and
    - (iii) such other requirements as are necessary to provide such assurance.
- (16) The term “State” means any State of the [United States](#17), the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the [United States](#17).
- (17) The term “United States”, when used in the geographic sense, means all of the [States](#16).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be “is”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–469, title I, § 3, Oct. 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 2004; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 99–519, § 3(c)(1), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2989; Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1214(e)(1), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1156; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title III, § 315, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 791; Pub. L. 114–182, title I, §§ 3, 19(c), June 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 448, 505.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, referred to in par. (2)(B)(ii), is act June 25, 1947, ch. 125, as amended generally by Pub. L. 92–516, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 973, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 136 et seq.) of chapter 6 of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 136 of Title 7 and Tables.

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, referred to in par. (2)(B)(iv), is act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 919, and amended, which is classified principally to chapter 23 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2011 of Title 42 and Tables.

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, referred to in par. (9), is not set out in the Code. See Publication of Harmonized Tariff Schedule note set out under section 1202 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

For definition of Canal Zone, Governor of the Canal Zone, and Panama Canal Company, referred to in par. (16), see section 3602(b) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

### Amendments

2016—Pars. (4) to (7). Pub. L. 114–182, § 3(1)–(3), added pars. (4) and (7) and redesignated former pars. (4) and (5) as (5) and (6), respectively. Former pars. (6) and (7) redesignated (8) and (9), respectively.

Par. (8). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(c)(1), substituted “information” for “data”.

Pub. L. 114–182, § 3(1), redesignated par. (6) as (8). Former par. (8) redesignated (10).

Pars. (9) to (14). Pub. L. 114–182, § 3(1), (4), added par. (12) and redesignated former pars. (7) to (11) as (9), (10), (11), (13), and (14), respectively. Former pars. (12) to (14) redesignated (15) to (17), respectively.

Par. (15). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(c)(2)(A), (B), in introductory provisions, substituted “protocols and methodologies for the development of information” for “standards for the development of test data”.

Pub. L. 114–182, § 3(1), redesignated par. (12) as (15).

Par. (15)(A). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(c)(2)(C), substituted “on such information” for “on such data” in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(c)(2)(B), substituted “for which information” for “for which test data” in concluding provisions.

Par. (15)(B). Pub. L. 114–182, § 19(c)(2)(C), substituted “information” for “data” wherever appearing.

Pars. (16), (17). Pub. L. 114–182, § 3(1), redesignated pars. (13) and (14) as (16) and (17), respectively.

2015—Par. (2)(B)(v). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “and any component of such an article (limited to shot shells, cartridges, and components of shot shells and cartridges), and” for “, and”.

1988—Par. (7). Pub. L. 100–418 substituted “general note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States” for “general headnote 2 of the Tariff Schedules of the United States”.

1986—Par. (2)(B)(v). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–418 effective Jan. 1, 1989, and applicable with respect to articles entered on or after such date, see section 1217(b)(1) of Pub. L. 100–418, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3001 of Title 19, Customs Duties.

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1977, see section 31 of Pub. L. 94–469, set out as a note under section 2601 of this title.