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Philippines RA 6969

Nadine He Last updated on: Mar 26, 2025

Republic Act 6969 (RA 6969), known as the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990”, is the key legislation for managing chemical substances and mixtures in the Philippines, published by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In 1992, DENR further promulgated the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 6969 to provide detailed guidance for its implementation.

Legal Framework under RA 6969

To fully understand chemical management under RA 6969, the relationship of PICCS, PCL, PMPIN and CCO should be figured out:

  • PICCS: Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances

  • PCL: Philippine Priority Chemicals List 

  • CCO: Chemical Control Orders 

  • PMPIN: Pre-Manufacture and Pre-Importation Notification of New Chemicals

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Fig.1 Chemical Management in Philippine

PICCS

The Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS) is a list of all existing chemicals and chemical substances used, sold, distributed, imported, processed, manufactured, stored, exported, treated or transported in the Philippines.

The first PICCS was published by DENR-EMB in 1995 and subsequently updated in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2025 to cover 22,438 chemical substances. Official online search channel for PICCS:  https://opms.emb.gov.ph/piccs_search/

For chemicals not listed in the PICCS, they will be regarded as new chemicals in Philippines and subject to Pre-Manufacturer and Pre-Importation Notification (PMPIN).

For chemicals listed in the PICCS, if they are not further regulated under Priority Chemical List (PCL) or Chemical Control Orders (CCO), they can be exported to the Philippines without market access restriction.

It should be noted that a PICCS certificate may be required by the Bureau of Customs or other authorities to prove the substances are listed on PICCS before releasing the goods.

PMPIN of New Chemicals

Philippine manufacturers and importers should submit a Pre-Manufacture and Pre-Importation Notification (PMPIN) of new chemical substances within 90-180 days before producing and importing new chemical substances.

Direct Exemption

According to EMB2020-005 Data Requirements for PMPIN Procedures, below items are exempted from PMPIN rules:

  • Articles;
  • Naturally occurring substances;
  • Radioactive substances, pesticides, drugs, foodstuffs, and consumer products that are regulated by other laws in the Philippines.

A draft Guidelines on the Exemption of Impurities, Chemical By-Products, Non-Isolated Intermediates, Alloys, and Statutory Mixtures under the Title II of DENR A.O. 1992-29 was consulted in Nov 2023 to clarify that impurities, chemical by-products, non-isolated intermediates, alloys and statutory mixtures will be legally exempted from PMPIN. Once approved, companies that meet this exemption scope can apply for exemption through Online Permitting and Monitoring System. 

Indirect Exemption: Polymer Exemption

According to DAO 2019‐18 Polymers and Polymer of Low Concern (PLC) Exemption from the PMPIN Process, polymer exemption applies to a new polymer meeting any of the following four criteria:

  • All of its monomers should be listed in the PICCS;

  • The total quantity of monomers and other reactants (including cross linking, chain transfer agents, and post polymerization reactants) which are not listed in the PICCS is less than 2% (by weight)

  • A new polymer if two or more of the top (by weight) monomers are included in the definition of another polymer listed in the PICCS 

  • For PLCs, they should fall under either of the following two categories:

    Category 1:

    • Number Average Molecular Weight (NAMW) ≥10,000 Da;

    • Less than 5% of oligomers are with Molecular Weight (MW) lower than 1,000 Da and less than 2% of oligomers with MW lower than 500 Da; and

    • Functional Group Equivalent Weight (FGEW) for cationic polymers ＞5,000 Da.

    Category 2:

    • 1,000Da ≦NAMW<10,000 Da,

    • Less than 25% of oligomers are with MW lower than 1,000 Da and less than 10% of oligomers with MW lower than 500 Da;

    • No reactive functional groups (RFGs) are over 2% by weight

      polymer_exemption.jpg




Indirect Exemption: SQI Clearance

Small Quantity Importation Clearance (SQI) applies to importation of less than 1000kg/y of pure new chemical substance or mixtures containing new chemical substances. Applicants are obliged to submit an annual report to EMB central office no later than 15 days after the end of the Calendar year.

PMPIN Determination

So how to determine whether your chemicals are subject to PMPIN:

  1. Make sure the chemicals are not exempted

  2. Chemicals are not listed in PICCS

  3. Chemicals are not exempted from polymer exemption

  4. Importation volume of chemicals is no less than 1000kg per year

To clarify the stipulations, the flowchart below gives a clear illustration of the procedure:

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PMPIN Data Requirements

There are two kinds of PMPIN notification forms:

PMPIN Abbreviated Form (Download): Used when a new substance is listed in the inventory of a country with a similar chemical review process as Philippine. Countries refer to USA, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan and Korea.

PMPIN Detailed Form (Download): Used for other new substances exclude the above, or the submitted information is not sufficient to determine the safety of the new chemical.

Read more about detailed PMPIN data requirements.

Updating to PICCS

For PMPIN Abbreviated/Detailed form, they will be evaluated by the chemical review committee to see if the new chemical pose unreasonable risk. For those having unreasonable risks, they may be added to PCL list and may further issue CCO for it. For those having no risks, they will be added to PICCS as an existing substance a year after the applicant submit the Notice of Commencement (NOC). The new chemical may be added to the PICCS public version or the PICCS confidential version depending whether when CBI is requested by applicant in the Notice of Commencement.

PCL Compliance Certificate

The Philippine Priority Chemicals List (PCL) is a list of hazardous chemicals that DENR-EMB has determined to potentially pose unreasonable risk to public health, workplace and the environment. All importers and manufacturers of listed chemicals are required to secure the PLC Compliance Certificate from the DENR with following requirements:

  • Application Online. (See www.emb.gov.ph)

  • Notarized Annual Report Form

  • Safety Data Sheet (GHS format)

  • DENR Identification Number as Hazardous Waste Generator

  • Environmental Compliance Certificate

  • Discharge Permit

  • Permit to Operate for APCD (Air Pollution Control Device) and/or APSI (Air Pollution Source Installation)

  • Summary of Importation Data (for importers)

  • Chemical Management Plan (includes storage, handling, disposal, transport, safety and health requirements and environmental controls at the workplace).

  • Management Operation Flow Chart (Process flow on the usage of the chemical)

  • Contingency/ Emergency Plan (includes response procedure on spills, contact, inhalation, ingestion, transport, fire, etc.)

  • List of Users/Customers with corresponding projected/required volume. (For importer/distributor; projected for the year, and customers distributed the previous year).

  • Groundwater/Surface Water Monitoring Results (for user/manufacturer)

  • Self-Monitoring Report (for user/manufacturers)

  • Photos of Storage Facility /Warehouse.

  • Basic knowledge posed by the use and release of the chemical (e.g. photocopy of training  certificate of PCO related to Chemicals, Safety, Environment and/or training attendance of  employees relating to chemical management, safety and environment. Include the number of employees handling the chemical.

  • Copy of previous PCL Certificate 

Chemical Control Orders (CCO)

DENR-EMB issues Chemical Control Orders (CCOs) that prohibit, limit, or regulate the use, manufacture, import, transport, processing, storage, possession, and wholesale of those priority chemicals (PCL) that DENR-EMB determined to be regulated, phase-out, or banned because of the serious risks they pose to public health, workplace, and environment.

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So far 10 chemical groups are subject to CCO. You can check details here: https://chemical.emb.gov.ph/?page_id=44. As planned, Benzene and Vinyl Chloride will be listed in the near future. Their CCOs were drafted in 2022.

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General Requirements applied to all CCOs are shown below:

  • Registration with DENR-EMB & Obtaining Import Clearance

  • Limitation in Industrial Use:

  •               a. Gradual phase out of import and manufacturing

  •               b. Gradual substitution of the chemical uses and premises

  • Annual Report to DENR-EMB. All manufacturers, importers, and industrial users of chemicals must submit an annual report to DENR-EMB that include the following information:

  •             a. General Information (premise)

  •             b. Production and management information

  •             c. Number and category of employees exposed and exposure duration

  •             d. Waste generated (fluids, sludge, slurry, scraps, etc.), and storage, treatment, and disposal information (type of treatment and land disposal premises, location, methods, etc.)

  • Labeling Requirements

  • Storage Requirements

  • Treatment and Disposal Requirements

  • Self-Inspection

  • Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

* Contact Environmental Management Bureau regarding the requirements for specific chemicals.

 

Tags:   PhilippinePhilippine PMPINChemical management
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