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At ChemCon The Americas 2020 held in Philadelphia, US, Caroline Li from ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. summarized the latest developments of chemical- and environment-related regulations in Southeast Asia.
Cambodia
Cambodia has made a continued effort to revise the draft Cambodia Code on Environment and Natural Resources (the 11th version [1] was released on April 18), a sound chemical management legislation which covers the administration of hazardous substances, among other things. The implementation of GHS has also been progressing in a steady manner, Ms. Li added.
Besides the work done on its own, the country has been tackling its chemicals- and waste-related problems by increasing engagement with the international community. The country has ratified the Basel [2], Rotterdam [3], and Stockholm[4] conventions, and cooperated with the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on a three-year project to boost its institutional capacity to implement such conventions. The project will also help facilitate the implementation of Cambodia’s national environmental strategic action plan 2016-2023 [5], a roadmap to ensure environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources.
Indonesia
According to Ms. Li, in addition to the management of hazardous and toxic substances (also known as B3 substances in the Indonesian context), Indonesia has also secured some progress in waste control. In 2019, the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued the Ministerial Regulation No.75/2019 regarding the Roadmap to Waste Reduction by Producers. The document requires producers to develop a roadmap to reduce waste across the country by 30 percent from 2020 to 2029 and encourages the application of 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) as well as the step-wide reduction of PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc. by 2030.
Laos
Ever since the Chemicals Law of Lao PDR [6] was officially released on November 10, 2016, little progress has been made to flesh out the regulatory framework. But Ms. Li noted that according to her knowledge, the Law government would work to establish secondary chemical laws and develop a national chemical inventory as well as related schemes in the next phase.
The Philippines
The Philippines has been managing chemicals centering on the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990 [7], known as RA 6969 and published by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). According to Ms. Li, the most notable update in recent years should be the introduction of exemptions [8] granted to polymers of low concern (PLCs) in the Pre-Manufacturer and Pre-Importation Notification (PMPIN).
Singapore
In Singapore, hazardous substances are managed majorly under the Environmental Protection and Management Act [9]. This Act specifies requirements concerning the sale, export, import, transport, and use of hazardous substances. In April 2019, the NEA notified the WTO a proposal [10] to manage 11 chemicals — which have been identified by parties to the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions for review — as hazardous substances. The proposal was then gazetted in June the same year, and relevant licensing would take effect six months later.
Ms. Li pointed out that the Singaporean government introduced the SS CP 586 Singapore Standard on Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods in 2008, with an aim to assist businesses in following GHS-based labeling and SDS requirements. Currently, discussions are underway to revise the SS 586 to adopt a newer version of GHS.
In terms of environmental management, Singapore has launched a Zero Waste Masterplan [11], vowing to march towards the target of zero waste by 2025. Meanwhile, it is planning for a new regulatory framework as part of the Resource Sustainability Bill [12] targeting electronic waste, packaging waste, and food waste. Currently, the Bill has been passed by the Parliament.
Thailand
Thailand is working on revising the draft of the Chemical Substances Act, risk-based legislation, which will replace the existing Hazardous Substance Act upon the approval by relevant authorities. It will provide a new system for registration and classification of hazardous chemicals. Ms. Li concluded that the highlights in the new Act include:
ü Inclusion of all chemicals
ü An inventory of existing and new chemicals
ü A focus on risk assessment
ü Company registration system
ü Extended producer responsibility
ü Establishment of a national chemical agency
