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Chinese Mainland
China to Revise the Implementation Guidance of the 2015 Inventory of Hazardous Chemicals (August 4th, 2020)
On August 4th, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) announced they have opened a consultation on the revision to the Guidance for the Implementation of China 2015 Inventory of Hazardous Chemicals (Trial). Major changes proposed include adjustments to its regulatory scope and the classification information sheet. As soon as the draft revision is officially approved, enterprises will need to update relevant hazard communication information, such as SDS and labels and hazardous chemical registration information. (CL news)
China Launches Nationwide Campaign to Address Storage Safety of Hazardous Chemicals (August 5th, 2020)
On August 5th, 2020, the Office of the Work Safety Commission of the State Council and the MEM held a meeting, having witnessed the impact of the Beirut blast and arranging for a nationwide campaign dedicated to storage safety of hazardous chemicals. A particular focus was placed on ports, docks, warehouses and chemical industrial parks, etc. (CL news)
China Consults on Guidance on Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (August 17th, 2020)
On August 17, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) released a notice on its official website, announcing a consult on the draft Guidance on Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances. The document provides implementation rules for MEE Order No. 12 with regard to registration scope, types and procedures, documents required, special rules on polymers, new usage management, registration certificate, etc. (CL news)
China MEE Approves 2020’s 7th and 8th Batches of Simplified Notification New Chemicals (August 17th, August 24th)
On August 17th, MEE published the 7th batch of approved Simplified Notification new chemicals, including 24 general cases, 128 special cases, and 20 registration certificate changes. On August 24th, the 8th batch was released, including 29 general cases and 161 special cases. (Read more)
China Launches another Round of Special Campaigns to Address Safety of Hazardous Chemicals (August 21st, 2020)
On August 21st, 2020, the Work Safety Committee under the State Council and the MEM launched the second round of special campaigns targeting hazardous chemicals, with the aim to shore up safety vulnerabilities in workplaces involving such materials. The focus, as with the previous round which was conducted from August 7th to the 17th, is still placed on explosive chemicals. Regional governments have made relevant arrangements in light of their own conditions, with an eye to keeping aligned with the campaigns. (CL news)
China Shanghai Unveils Annual Follow-up Review of New Chemical Notification (August 24th, 2020)
On August 24th, 2020, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment held the Conference on Follow-up Random Inspection and Assessment of New Chemical Management of Shanghai for 2020. The annual initiative is aimed at enhancing the regulation of businesses which deal with new chemicals after issuance of new chemical notification certificates and thus controlling the environmental risks of new chemicals. (CL news)
China’s Revised Law on Solid Waste Enters into Effect on September 1st
On April 29th, 2020, the revised Law of the People’s Republic China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste was approved by the National People Commission Standing Committee, and it is scheduled to take effect on September 1st, 2020. The new Law emphasizes the management of industrial solid wastes, including the extension of the responsibility of the producer of the solid, adoption of the discharge permit system for solid waste, and enhancement the solid waste treatment ability. In addition, for the transfer and disposal of hazardous waste, local administrations will conduct more inspections and supervision. (CL news)
Taiwan, China
Taiwan to Update Inspection Requirements for Textile Goods (August 19, 2020)
On August 19, 2020, Taiwan’s Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) notified the WTO of proposed revisions to the inspection requirements for textile goods. The standard CNS 15290 will add the requirement for limitation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and revise the limits for nonylphenolethoxylates (NPEO) and nonylphenol (NP). The standard CNS 15291 will expand the age range from 12 to 14, and revise cords and drawstrings' specification. (Read more)
Taiwan to Restrict Imports of Products Containing Mercury (August 26th, 2020)
To keep the regulations consistent with the requirements in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Taiwan EPA has incorporated some restrictions on the operation of mercury into the Categories and Management of Handling for Toxic Chemical Substance. In 2019, EPA issued an amendment to the regulation, with bans for manufactured mercury-added products including fluorescent lamps, batteries, switches, etc., which would be implemented from 2021. In addition to the prohibition on the manufacturing of mercury-added products, according to the notice the import of such products is also scheduled to be prohibited from 2021. (CL news)
Japan
Japan Consults on Partial Revision to Test Methods of New Chemicals (August 12th, 2020)
On August 12th, 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment (MoE) issued an announcement to solicit public comments on a revision to the Notice on Test Methods of New Chemicals. In accordance with the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL, see ChemLinked Chempedia), the examination of new chemicals, in principle, must be performed based on the test methods stipulated in the Notice. One of the key adjustments proposed is the addition of four fish species into the list of recommended test fish species for fish acute toxicity tests. (CL news)
South Korea
South Korea Notifies WTO of K-BPR Revisions (July 31, 2020)
On July 31, 2020, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment notified the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade under World Trade Organization (WTO) of proposed revisions to the Enforcement Decree and the Enforcement Rules of the Consumer Chemical Products and Biocides Safety Act (K-BPR). According to the WTO notification (G/TBT/N/KOR/911), the draft revision is subject to a period of public consultation lasting 50 days. (Read more) (CL news)
South Korea Updates GHS Classification List (August 5, 2020)
Published on August 5, 2020 by NIER Announcement No.2020-25, South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) announced the updates to the GHS Classification List, including adding mandatory classification and labelling elements for 31 toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2020-1-970~2020-1-1000) and revising the classification information of 5 toxic chemical substances and 2 accident precaution chemicals that were previously designated. (Read more)
South Korea Publishes Hazard Evaluation Results of New Substances Registered under K-REACH (August 6, 2020)
On August 6, 2020, South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) published the hazard evaluation results of new chemical substances registered under K-REACH by NIER Announcement No. 2020-26, including adding hazard evaluation results of 169 new substances (No.2020-1 to 2020-169) and updating the chemical name or hazard evaluation results of several new substances previously assessed. (Read more)
South Korea Launches 3rd Round of Compensation for Generating Data for Registration of 1,000+ t/y Substances (August 10, 2020)
Existing chemical substances with a volume over 1,000 tons per year require registration by December 31, 2021. To relieve industry concerns over the cost for generating data for registration of high tonnage band, the Korea Environment Corporation (KECO) launched the third round of application for test fees compensation on August 10, 2020. The lead registrants for substances over 1,000 t/y can apply for it by August 21, 2020. The first round has selected 80 substances and the second round has further selected 26 substances. (Read more)
South Korea Expands the Scope of Compensation for Test Data (August 27, 2020)
The Korea Environment Corporation (KECO) expands the application scope of test fees compensation program from 15 hazard endpoints to 20 hazard endpoints, including 6 for human health hazards and 14 for environmental hazards. The lead registrants can apply to join the program by September 10, 2020. (Read more)
South Korea Simplifies Registration Requirements for Chemicals of Specific Hazards (August 28, 2020)
The Ministry of Environment (MoE) is leading a project to check hazard information of chemical substances that have been pre-registered before June 30, 2019. If their hazard classification falls under the standards as stipulated in Appendix 3-3 of the K-REACH Enforcement Rule (e.g. if there is no hazards other than acute toxicity, Cat. 4, skin irritation, Cat.2, etc.) , they can be subject to simplification of registration data. (Read more)
South Korea Consults on 45 New Toxic Chemicals (August 31, 2020)
Published on August 31, 2020 by NIER Notice No.2020-407, South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) is now consulting on the potential updates on the Toxic Chemical Substances List. 45 new substances as toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2020-1-1001~2020-1-1045) will be added into the list after hazard evaluation under K-REACH. In addition, the chemical names of 3 toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2003-1-537, 2018-1-832, 2020-1-997) that were previously designated will be updated. (Read more)
Australia
Australia Publishes Extra Guidance on Categorization of Chemicals under AICIS (August 2020)
Starting from late July through August, Australia published a series of extra guidance on chemicals under its new chemical regulatory framework, the Australia Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS), including those on chemicals used in cosmetics, chemicals with an end use in articles with food contact, chemicals at the nanoscale, etc., in a bid to facilitate businesses’ understanding of and compliance with the new scheme. (Read more)
Vietnam
Vietnam to Strengthen the Management of the Storage of Hazardous Chemicals (August 17th, 2020)
On August 12th, Vietnam MoIT issued a notice to emphasize the responsibilities of the authorities and the enterprises to make sure the industrial chemicals, industrial waste, and industrial explosives are safely stored, for they may be stored in a large amount due to the sluggish manufacturing and transport during the COVID-19 epidemic. (Read more)
