The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continued its use of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to regulate a broad class of consumer products, not just chemicals, in publishing a final rule adding cadmium and cadmium compounds to the TSCA Section 8(d) rule. In so doing, manufacturers and importers of cadmium must submit unpublished health and safety studies to the EPA, including use in materials that have been or are "reasonably likely" to be incorporated into consumer products. Products under the scope of the rule include items used in and around homes, schools, recreational areas and temporary residences.

Under the rule, companies that, in the ten years preceding the date a chemical substance is listed, either have proposed to manufacture or import or have manufactured or imported the listed substance, must submit to EPA a copy of each health and safety study that's in their possession. The same requirement applies to manufacturers or importers that, at the time the chemical substance is listed, propose to manufacture or importor are manufacturing or importing the listed chemical substance. The studies were required to be submitted to EPA by March 4, 2013.

Manufacturers and importers must submit a copy of all unpublished health and safety studies, as well as any studies showing "measurable content of cadmium or cadmium compounds in consumer products."