Global Chemical Regulation Highlights | October 2022

China

The Department of Ecology and Environment of Zhejiang, China made public the Draft Work Plan for New Pollutants Treatment for comments due by October 30. In addition to Zhejiang, many other provincial administrative regions of China, such as Tianjin, Sichuan, Hainan, etc., have released their own draft work plans to push forward the management for new pollutants based on the Action Plan for New Pollutants Treatment and local situations. ChemLinked has made a table to illustrate the provinces that have published the corresponding draft local plans and their main points. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in China:

• Compliance Guide | Import & Export of Chemicals Subject to Supervision and Control in China

• China Announces National Standardization Plan for Carbon Peaking and Neutralization in Energy Sector

• China Unveils Revised Regulation on Railway Transportation Safety of Dangerous Goods

• China to Pilot Differential Supervision on Occupational Disease Risks

• China NCIA Calls for Information on the Use of 73 Substances in Coating Industry

• Taiwan to Add 4 New Organotin Compounds as Toxic Chemicals

• Taiwan to Prohibit Import of Products Containing Asbestos

On October 6, 2022, South Korea’s National Institute of Environment Research (NIER) issued two notifications to make public the updated Toxic Chemical Substances List and GHS Classification List. 12 substances have been newly added as toxic chemicals as they are found toxic after hazard evaluation under K-REACH. Enterprises handling these substances and mixtures shall submit the "Written Confirmation of Verification on Chemical Products" and update the labels to reflect their toxicity before July 1, 2023. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in South Korea:

• South Korea to Disclose Chemical Information of 347 New Substances with Expired CBI Protection

• South Korea to Expands Scope of Regular Inspection of Hazardous Substances Facilities

• South Korea to Allow Non-disclosure of Registration/Notification Number under K-REACH for CBI Concerns

• South Korea Updates Guide for Reaction Products Registration under K-REACH

In October 2022, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) updated its comprehensive guidance on labelling and SDS preparation under the PRTR Law. The guidance (100+ pages) contains a package of information and materials comprising introductions to the target chemicals/products, affected enterprises, SDS delivery methods and SDS/label elements, etc., a guide on the preparation of SDS and labels, and tools and FAQs regarding the PRTR law requirements. The guidance also provides the details of the other two Japanese laws (ISHL and PDSCL) that set rules for SDSs and labels. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Japan:

• Japan Imposes New Export Control on PFOA and DecaBDE

• Japan to Add 6 Substances to Occupational Disease List and Updates Symptoms of 7 Existing Substances

• Japan Released the 2023 Schedule for Applications for Manufacture/Import of New Substances at Low Volumes

On October 18, 2022, the Australian Government issued a notice to announce the addition of 10 chemicals to the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC). According to Section 82 of the Industrial Chemical Act 2019, these 10 chemicals were added into AIIC because 5 years have passed since the assessment certificates were issued. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Australia:

• Australia Consults on 18 Draft Evaluation Statements Covering 187 Industrial Chemicals

• Australia Adds One Substance to AIIC following Publication of Its Assessment Certificate

• Australia Seeks Information on PFAS Chemicals to Develop Risk Management Approaches under IChEMS

• Australia AICIS: Record-keeping Checklists Won’t be Available as a PDF Link from Nov 4 2022

• Western Australia Consults on Draft Guide on Storage, Handling, and Production of Hydrogen