Interpreting the CDR Data
This page provides information on interpreting the 2020 CDR Database. For the 2016 CDR database, click here.
On this page:
- 2020 Chemical Data Reporting Results
- Summary of 2020 CDR Data
- Comparison between 2016 and 2020 submission periods
2020 Chemical Data Reporting Results
On this page, EPA has summarized key information from the 2020 Chemical Data Reporting, which is EPA's most recent CDR data that is publicly available.
Summary of 2020 CDR Data
Who reported in 2020?
Manufacturers (including importers) of chemicals listed on the TSCA Inventory and produced, for a commercial purpose(s), in volumes that exceeded the applicable threshold at a site during any of the calendar years 2016, 2017, 2018, or 2019.
What were the reporting thresholds?
- Chemical substances manufactured with an annual volume of 25,000 lbs (11,340 kg) or more.
- Lower thresholds applied for certain chemical substances subject to regulatory action under TSCA with an annual volume of 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) or more. (See Help with Chemical Data Reporting: How to Search for Chemicals Subject to Certain TSCA Actions for additional information)
What information was reported in 2020?
2020 CDR data contain the following information on chemical substances manufactured (including imported) for the year 2019:
- Production volume of each reportable chemical reported separately as domestically manufactured volume and imported volume,
- Manufacturing information, including the number of workers reasonably likely to be exposed and the physical form of the chemical substance,
- Industrial processing and use, including chemical-specific industrial function categories and the number of sites, and
- Consumer and commercial use information, including chemical-specific product categories, and whether the chemical was used in products intended for children.
For the years 2016, 2017, and 2018, manufacturers (including importers) also reported total annual production volume (domestically manufactured plus imported) of each reportable chemical.
What is different from the data collection in 2020 compared to 2016?
The 2020 CDR Revisions rule and Small Manufacturer Definition Update rule, both published in the spring of 2020, impacted the CDR requirements. The changes:
- Impacted who reported by updating the small manufacturer definition, enabling more companies to be exempted from the need to report
- Added new data elements, including the requirement to report:
- Foreign parent company, if applicable
- NAICS code for the reporting site
- Percent production volume that is a byproduct (voluntary data element)
- Function of the chemical in an imported product
- Function of the chemical in a consumer or commercial product
- Modified certain existing data elements:
- Updated when to report that a chemical is recycled
- Updated the industrial function codes and consumer/commercial product codes. For the 2020 collection period, the updated codes were required for a small set of priority chemicals. For the 2024 submission period, the updated codes will be required for all chemicals.
- Other changes:
- Added two new byproduct reporting exemptions
- Changed how co-manufactured chemicals are reported
See a Summary of CDR Reporting Requirements by Year.
What else do I need to know to use the 2020 CDR data?
To learn how to access CDR data: Access CDR Data
For information about using the CDR data: Using the 2020 CDR Database