SGIA Comments on WHO Recommendations Regarding GBL and BDO

In response to a request for comments, SGIA submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration regarding the use of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) as they relate to use in ink systems used by our industry sector. SGIA strongly urged the U.S. government to reject the WHO recommendation to list GBL and BDO under Schedule I of the 1971 Convention and to reject control of these substances under any other Schedule of that Convention or of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Listing these substances on any Schedule of these Conventions is unlikely to address the concern identified by the WHO Committee on Drug Dependence and effectively would prevent manufacturers in the United States from using these substances in a wide array of legitimate applications that are controlled appropriately and sufficiently under applicable U.S. law and through industry practice.