Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Security with Respect to Sterile Medical Equipment

The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt certain stationary sources, including commercial sterilization facilities, from compliance with the Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review (EtO Rule) for an additional two years. The EtO Rule, which imposes new emissions-control requirements, has been deemed burdensome and potentially disruptive to the supply of sterilized medical equipment. The exemption is based on the determination that the technology to implement the EtO Rule is not commercially viable and that maintaining the supply of sterilized medical equipment is in the national security interests of the United States.