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China Launches Special Campaign to Address Transport Safety of Hazardous Chemicals (July 1, 2020)
Starting from July 1, local authorities began carrying out a half-year-long campaign dedicated to transport safety of hazardous chemicals. Local administrations of public security and transport are required to put in place 16 concrete measures in six aspects, including stringent control of issuance of licenses, enhanced dynamic regulation, establishment of emergency mechanisms, etc. (Read more)
Key VOCs Standards Come into Force on July 1, 2020
Two mandatory national standards for VOCs control in coating products took effect on July 1, 2020, including GB 38469-2019 Limit of Harmful Substances of Marine Coatings and GB 38468-2019 Limit of Harmful Substances of Interior Floor Coatings. In addition, existing facilities should work in line with relevant requirements in GB 37822-2019 Standard for Fugitive Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds since July 1, 2020. (Read more)
China to Phase out Non-compliant Hazardous Chemical Enterprises and Obsolete Technologies and Equipment (July 2, 2020)
On July 2, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) published the drafts of the List of Criteria of Hazardous Chemical Enterprises to be Rectified or Phased out (2020) and the List of Obsolete Technologies and Equipment to be Phased out in Hazardous Chemical Enterprises (Batch 1 in 2020) to solicit public comments. The documents are aimed at phasing out non-compliant enterprises and obsolete items, technologies and equipment in the hazardous chemical industry to step up production safety. (ChemLinked news)
Nine Departments in China Pledge to Further Reduce Plastic Pollution (July 10, 2020)
On July 10, 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), and seven other departments jointly published the Notice on Making Solid Progress in Treatment of Plastic Pollution. The move commits to ensuring the efforts to achieve the goal of restricting or prohibiting the production, sale and use of certain plastics in pilot areas and sectors by the end of 2020. (ChemLinked news)
China Consults on National Standards for Plastic Shopping Bags and Degradable Disposable Tableware (July 16, 2020)
On July 16, 2020, China State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) issued a notice to seek public feedback until July 24 on two national standards, including GB/T 21661-xxxx for plastic shopping bags and GB 18006.x-202x for general quality requirements of degradable disposable tableware. (Read more)
China Updates National Standard Regarding the Security for Student Articles (July 23, 2020)
On July 23, 2020, the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) issued the revised GB 21027-2020 Request in Common Use of Security for Student's Articles. This standard applies to the learning supplies for students no more than 14 years old. Kinds of products subject to the standard are specified in the standard, as well as corresponding requirements. Compared with the 2007 version, GB 21027-2020 has adjusted the scope of application, updated the limits of hazardous substances that might be contained in the articles and added a list of harmful aromatic amines that shall not be used, etc. (ChemLinke news)
SAMR Publishes Revision to Safety Specifications for Road Transportation Vehicle of Explosive Substance and Chemical Toxic Substance (July 23, 2020)
The Chinese State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) published the No.1 revision to the Safety Specifications for Road Transportation Vehicle of Explosive Substance and Chemical Toxic Substance (GB 20300-2018). The standard provides the terms and requirements concerning vehicles carrying explosives and highly toxic chemicals. (Read more)
Guidance on MEE Order No. 12 Expected to Come out in August (July 30, 2020)
Sources from the MEE said that the guidance on the MEE Order No. 12 is expected to be published in August. According to the draft Transitional Measures which was released before, where an applicant cannot obtain registration certificates before December 31 this year, he or she will be required to submit applications according to relevant provisions of MEE Order No. 12. Businesses which wish to obtain certificates under MEP Order No. 7 need to pick up their pace in this regard. (ChemLinked news)
China Issues the Implementation Rules of 2020 National Inspection Plan for Product Quality (July 31, 2020)
On July 31, 2020, China State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued the Implementation Rules of 2020 National Supervision and Sampling Plan for Product Quality to promote the enforcement of the plan announced on May 8. The plan will conduct random sampling inspections of 131 types of products in 8 categories to ensure that they meet the requirements in corresponding national standards. 3 types of packaging materials for hazardous chemicals are included in the 131 types of products, namely the steel drums, steel pails, and tinplate aerosol can. (ChemLinked news)
Taiwan, China
Taiwan to Regulate Nitrous Oxide as Concerned Chemicals (July 21, 2020)
On July 21, 2020, Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) published the draft revisions to the Categories and Management of Handling for Concerned Chemical Substances Regulation to solicit public comments. Nitrous oxide is proposed to be regulated as concerned chemicals under the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act (TCCSCA) with control concentration standard set as all above 0%. As planned it will be announced by the end of October and come into effect immediately. (ChemLinked news)
Taiwan EPA Considers Extending Registration Deadline for 106 PECs
In view of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, as well as industry concerns over data copyright issue, there will be a likely one-year extension of the registration deadline for the first batch of 106 priority existing chemicals (PECs). A legal amendment to the Regulation of New and Existing Chemical Substances Registration will be rolled out after receiving opinions from relevant stakeholders.
Japan
Japan MHLW Provides Document Requirements for Entry into Its Positive List for FCMs (July 29, 2020)
On July 29, 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) released a notice to detail document requirements for expanding the positive list for food contact materials (FCMs). Where businesses and individuals wish to add a substance into the list, they can submit proposals using a table given and a document to confirm its use before the implementation date. (ChemLinked news)
Japan Announces 226 New Chemicals under CSCL (July 31, 2020)
On July 31, 2020, the MHLW, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) jointly gazette a total of 226 new chemical substances (No. 706-No. 931) under the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL). Since the publication of the gazette, these substances will be considered as Newly Announced Chemical Substances (notified on and after April 1, 2011) and regulated as existing chemicals under the framework of CSCL. (ChemLinked news)
South Korea
South Korea Designates 31 New Toxic Chemicals (July 17, 2020)
On July 17, 2020, South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) listed 31 new substances as toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2020-1-970~2020-1-1000) after hazard evaluation under K-REACH. They are still considered new chemical substances in South Korea and require new chemical registration other than the original registrants. Transitional measures were provided for control of these toxic substances under CCA regulation. In addition, the concentration limits of 7 toxic chemical substances that were previously designated were updated. The updates came into effective immediately. (ChemLinked news)
South Korea to Strengthen the Management of Hazardous Substances in EEPs (July 9, 2020)
On July 9, 2020, the MoE published the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles (Korea RoHS). The amendment mainly focuses on the expansion of the scope of the electrical and electronic products (EEPs) which are subject to restrictions on the use of hazardous substances and the supplement of 4 kinds of phthalate esters to the list of hazardous substances that are restricted to use in EEPs. (ChemLinked news)
K-REACH Registration of 332 Substances Needs Speeding Up (July 1, 2020)
On July 1, 2020, K-REACH Helpdesk issued a list of 332 existing chemical substances (including 17 CMRs). These substances should be subject to joint registration by the first registration deadline of December 31, 2021 according to their pre-registration volumes. However, organization and management of the corresponding consortium has not been smooth. Some substances are not yet have lead registrants. South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) urges relevant stakeholders to join consortium and speed up the registration work. (ChemLinked news)
South Korea Publishes List of Hazard Test Data to Support Registration of 85 Substances (July 28, 2020)
On July 28, 2020, the Korea Environment Corporation (KECO) published a list of hazard test data at a reduced price to support small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in registering 85 substances under K-REACH. The 85 substances are designated by the authority as the first batch of substances applicable to the SMEs support program. The list of test data includes partition coefficient n-octanol/water, human health hazards (9 items) and environmental hazards (5 items). (Read more)
South Korea Provides Compensation for Generating Data for Registration of 1,000+ t/y Substances (July 16, 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) introduced a test fees compensation program on July 16, 2020. The lead registrants for substances over 1,000 t/y can apply to join the program by the end of July. (Read more)
South Korea Consults on Hazard Evaluation Results of New Substances Registered under K-REACH (July 9, 2020)
On July 9, 2020, South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) consulted on the hazard evaluation results of new chemical substances registered under K-REACH by NIER Notice No. 2020-354, including adding hazard evaluation results of 169 new substances and update the hazard evaluation results of several new substances previously assessed. (Read more)
South Korea to Revise Chemical Control Act Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules (July 9, 2020)
On July 9, 2020, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) published the draft revisions to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Chemical Control Act (CCA) by MoE Notice No.648 and MoE Notice No.649 respectively. The revisions mainly focus on modification of contract of hazardous chemicals, exemptions from regular and occasional inspections of handling facilities, etc., which are proposed to align with the revised CCA (Law No. 17182 of March 31, 2020). (Read more)
Australia
Australia AICIS Goes into Effect, with a New Website and Inventory in Place (July 1, 2020)
On July 1, 2020, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) officially took effect, replacing the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) as the national regulatory framework for the introduction of industrial chemicals in Australia. A new website and a new inventory were launched into use along with the scheme. Over 1,600 chemicals on the old inventory which are not used for any industrial purpose are removed from the new inventory. (ChemLinked news)
Australia AICIS Publishes Reminder for Registration and Renewals (July 16, 2020)
In mid-July 2020, the AICIS published a fact sheet on its website, reminding businesses to renew registration for the 2020-21 year. The AICIS registration year lasts from September 1 to August 31 of next year, and all businesses which introduce industrial chemicals, or certain products that release industrial chemicals, into Australia for commercial purposes must register with the AICIS. (ChemLinked news)
Thailand
Thailand Officially Releases the First Existing Chemicals Inventory (June 22, 2020)
On June 22, 2020, Thailand DIW issued the First Thailand Existing Chemicals Inventory which currently includes 11,474 entries. An online platform is available for searching substances in the inventory by CAS Number, chemical name, molecular formulas, etc. The issuance of the inventory is a milestone of Thailand’s management for chemicals and heralds the different management requirements for existing chemicals substances and new chemical substances. (ChemLinked news)
Thailand Updates the Lists of Restricted and Prohibited Cosmetic Ingredients (June 26, 2020)
On June 26, Thailand Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced amendments to the cosmetic ingredient standards in the Cosmetic Act B.E. 2015, which came into force on June 27, 2020. As per the circular, three restricted ingredients and five prohibited ingredients were newly added. Stakeholders who already manufactured, imported, or sold products containing the three restricted ingredients are allowed with a one-year grace period to comply with the new requirements. (ChemLinked news)
New Zealand
New Zealand EPA Issues Short-term Extension for Methyl Bromide Rule (July 2, 2020)
In 2010, a previous EPA decision-making committee reassessed methyl bromide and put in place new controls, including a ten-year deadline for users to adopt recapture technologies to collect and store any used gas, which was due to come into force on 28 October 2020. In early 2019 a group representing industry users of methyl bromide applied to have some controls for methyl bromide reviewed again. This group recently applied to the Decision-making Committee to approve a short-term waiver to extend the current recapture control for methyl bromide, which has been approved. The deadline for methyl bromide users to adopt recapture technologies is now 28 April 2021, but this may be impacted by the reassessment decision. (Read more)
