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Chinese Mainland
New Hazchem Registration Online System to be Implemented Nationwide in 2022 (January 5, 2022)
On January 5, 2022, the Work Safety Committee of the State Council issued the National Plan for Centralized Management of Safety Risks of Hazardous Chemicals. The plan proposes to enhance the digital and intelligent management of hazardous chemicals. The Emergency Management Department shall be responsible for promoting the upgrading of the chemical registration system. “One enterprise, one chemical product, and one QR code” management shall be imposed to achieve efficient hazardous chemical information transfer through the whole life cycle. (CL news)
China Enhances Law Enforcement to Fight against Environmental Pollution (January 10, 2022)
On January 10, 2022, Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for Construction of Integrated Administrative Law Enforcement Teams for Ecological and Environmental Protection (hereinafter referred to as ‘Construction Plan’), which is the support document in the nationwide battle to prevent and control pollution. The Construction Plan is formulated with a general goal of greatly improving the efficiency of environmental law enforcement by 2025. (CL news)
China to Update VOC Standards for Coatings by 2025
National Technical Committee on Paints & Pigments of Standardization Administration of China is planning to revise and integrate the current seven national mandatory standards on limits of harmful substances of coatings into three by 2025. The revised standards will cover more products and introduce more advanced technical indicators, which can better guarantee the high-quality green development of the coating industry. (CL news)
China Conducts Low VOC Coating Products Assessment
According to the 14th Five-Year Plan for Coating Industry in China published in 2021, the scale of China's coating industry will continue to expand during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The total output of the coating industry is expected to grow from 24.591 million tons in 2020 to about 30 million tons by 2025, with environmentally friendly coatings accounting for 70% of the total output. Many provinces have released their own 14th Five-Year Plan on VOCs source replacement,.including Zhejiang province, Jiangsu province and Shanghai city. (CL news)
China Updates the Catalogue of Dual-Use Items and Technologies Subject to Import and Export License Administration
On December 31, 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs issued the updated Catalogue of Dual-Use Items and Technologies Subject to Import and Export License Administration, which is formulated based on the Export Control Act of the People’s Republic of China, the Measures of Dual-Use Items and Technologies Subject to Import and Export License Administration and the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China (2022). The updated Catalogue has come into force on January 1, 2022, and the 2020 version was repealed at the same time. (CL news)
China Publishes Guidelines for Screening of Priority Assessment Chemical Substances
On December 22, 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the HJ 1229-2021 Guidelines for Screening of Priority Assessment Chemical Substances (hereinafter referred to as Guideline), and it will take effect on January 1, 2022. The Guideline stipulates the scope of chemical substances subject to the screening for priority assessment, screening principles and procedures, technical requirements for screening, and requirements for report preparation, etc. (CL news)
Continued Supply Chain Constraints in China due to Environmental and Social Issues
The chemical industry continues to experience unprecedented supply chain constraints due to China’s power shortages, dual control model, Winter Olympics restrictions, law enforcement and other policies, which has significantly disrupted chemical product availability and may continue to drive cost increases. (CL news)
Japan
Japan Consults on Annual Reporting Exemptions for 133 Substances (January 7, 2022)
On January 7, 2022, Japanese authorities jointly published a draft list of 133 substances exempted from annual reporting to seek public comments. The consultation will end on February 6, 2022. (Read more)
Japan Consults on Annual Reporting Exemptions for 133 Substances under CSCL (January 7, 2022)
On January 7, 2022, Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and Ministry of Environment (MOE) consulted on adding 133 substances to the list of substances exempt from annual reporting under the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL). Comments are due by February 6, 2022, and the final list is expected to be released in late March, 2022. The list is generally updated on a yearly basis. As of March 31, 2021, there were 3,110 substances on the list. (CL news)
Japan Consults on Adding 234 Substances for Mandatory SDS and Labeling Requirements under ISHL (Updated)
On December 28, 2021, Japan MHLW announced lists of candidate substances for mandatory SDS and labeling requirements in 2022 and 2023, based on which the official lists will be developed. (CL news）
Japan MHLW Revises Lists of Poisonous and Deleterious Chemicals (January 28, 2022)
On January 28, 2022, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) released the revised lists of poisonous and deleterious chemicals designated under the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law (PDSCL). Compared with the consultation version released in December, 2021, the main amendments remain unchanged. (CL news)
South Korea
South Korea Proposes to Add Ten Substances to the Authorization List
South Korea consulted on adding ten substances to the Authorization List, including benzoapyrene, formamide, perboric acid, etc. Once on the list, companies will need to obtain authorization before the “sunset date” to continue manufacturing, importing or using them. (CL news)
South Korea Updates Restricted Substances List
On Dec 29, 2021, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) announced the updates of Restricted Chemical Substances List by MoE Announcement No. 2021-295. Acrylamide and its mixtures (≥ 0.1%) are designated as restricted substances. Restrictions for lead and chromium (6+) compounds are updated. (CL news)
Australia
AICIS Published 24 Completed Evaluation Statements of Certain Chemicals (January 14, 2022)
AICIS published 24 evaluation statements about the human health and environmental risks associated with the use of certain chemicals. Compared with the draft statements published in October 2021, AICIS made adjustments to the evaluation statements of some chemicals based on the information provided by the public. (CL news)
India
India Delays Implementation of Quality Control Orders for 5 Substances
On December 24, 2021, India’s Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals published 5 orders to delay the implementation date of Bureau of Indian Standards quality control orders for phthalic anhydride, ethylene glycol, toluene, terephthalic acid, and n-butyl acrylate. These orders will enter into force on 22 June, 2022, after originally being scheduled for 21 December 2021. (Read more)
Thailand
Thailand Proposes to Revise the Regulation for Food Contact Plastics (January 27, 2022)
On January 27, 2022, World Trade Organization (WTO) announced a notification regarding the proposed revision to Thailand’s plastic food packaging regulations, which was proclaimed by Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Comments should be sent back within 30 days from the circulation of the notification. (CL news)
Vietnam
Vietnam Implements New POPs Regulations under Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP of LEP (January 10, 2022)
On January 10, 2022, Vietnam implements the Government Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP Detailing a Number of Articles of the Law on Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE)’s Circular No. 02/2022/TT-BTNMT on Implementation Rules for a Number of Articles of the Law on Environmental Protection, with detailed requirements for the control of POPs and POPs-containing products. (CL news)
Vietnam Consults on Electronic Goods Labeling under Decree No. 111/2021/ND-CP (January 21, 2022)
On January 21, 2022, Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology published the Draft Circular Stipulating the Display of Some Mandatory Labeling Contents by Electronic Method[1] for public comments until March 22, 2022. It is expected to be implemented in June, 2022. (CL news)
