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Chinese Mainland
China Consults on Revised Standard for Lithium Batteries (May 7, 2022)
On May 07, 2022, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published a notice on the draft amendments of GB 31241-2014, which was renamed as Lithium Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Portable Electronic Equipments―Safety Technical Specification. Public consultation will end on June 06, 2022. (CL news)
China Consults on Limits of Harmful Substances in Furniture (May 7, 2022)
On May 07, 2022, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published a draft standard for limits of harmful substances in furniture, which will replace the GB 18584-2001 Limit of Harmful Substances of Wood Based Furniture and GB 28481-2012 Limit of Harmful Substances of Plastic Furniture. In addition, three standards under draft, including No. 20073020-Q-607 Limit of Harmful Substances of Wood Based Furniture, No. 20080836-Q-607 Limit of Hazardous Substances of Mattresses and No. 20080837-Q-607 Limit of Hazardous Substances of Sofas will be incorporated in this new standard and will not be formulated as separate national standards anymore. Public consultation will end on June 06, 2022. (CL news)
China Permits 36 New Food Raw Materials, Additives and Food-related Products (May 5, 2022)
On May 5, 2022, China National Health Commission (NHC) published a list of 36 newly approved substances, including 3 new food raw materials, 18 new food additives, and 15 food-related products. A new bacterial culture named Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BB536 was permitted to be used in infant food. Two new food additives, namely, Glutamine transaminase and Lutein, can be used in some dairy products. (CL news)
Shanghai MSA Clarifies Must-Know Issues for Shipping Dangerous Goods via Waigaoqiao Area of Shanghai Port: 100% Ingredients Disclosure is Not Mandatory (May 11, 2022)
On May 11, 2022, the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) issued a Notice to provide further clarification on the 100% ingredients disclosure issues on dangerous goods (DG) that shipped via the Waigaoqiao Area of Shanghai Port. The Notice was issued to further clarify the requirements and provide the below two methods for shippers to prove their DG cargoes are allowed to transport in the Yangtze River Basin, while without revising the original SDS and disclosing 100% ingredients. (CL news)
China to Strengthen Safety Supervision and Administration of Transport of Dangerous Goods by Vessels (May 11, 2022)
On May 11, 2022, the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China (MoT) issued the draft amendments to the Provisions on the Safety Supervision and Administration of Transport of Dangerous Goods by Vessels to solicit public comments. The consultation will end on June 11, 2022. Tighter administrative penalties will be imposed on violations regarding the transportation of dangerous goods by vessels are further clarified in the Provisions. (CL news)
China Consults on Revision of International Road Transport Regulations (May 13, 2022)
On May 13, 2022, China’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) issued a notice seeking public comments on the draft amendments of the Regulations on the Management of International Road Transport. The consultation will end on June 13, 2022. The revision was drafted to optimize the management of international road transport. (CL news)
China Outlines Action Plan to Control New Pollutants (May 24, 2022)
On May 24, 2022, the Action Plan for New Pollutants Treatment was approved by the Chinese General Office of the State Council and officially released. The main changes between the draft version (issued in October 2021) and the official version are summarized, providing the compliance suggestions. (CL news)
China Steps Up Efforts in Source Control over Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals (May 24, 2022)
The Chinese General Office of the State Council officially released the approved Action Plan for New Pollutants Treatment, according to Notice No.15 of 20221 issued on May 24, 2022, which vows to improve the China’s new pollutants treatment capacity significantly by 2025. Strengthening the source control for toxic and hazardous substances is a major method to prevent the generation of new pollutants. (CL news)
China Updates Civil Explosives List (May 24, 2022)
On May 24, 2022, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security issued a notice, announcing the amendments to the List of Explosives for Civil Use. To further develop the safety management of explosives, the List was revised according to the Regulation on the Safety Administration of Explosives for Civil Use. The amendments are made on Part 5 "Raw Materials" of the List. (CL news)
China to Revise Measures on Storage of Dangerous Goods Transported by Air (May 25, 2022)
On May 25, 2022, the Transport Division, Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a notice to solicit public comments on the draft Administrative Measures for the Temporary Storage of Dangerous Goods Transported by Air. Comments are welcome before June 17, 2022. Rules for temporary storage of dangerous goods are introduced. (CL news)
China Plans to Pilot Hazchem QR Codes in More Cities
China’s new Hazardous Chemical Registration Comprehensive Service System was launched on February 16, 2022, which supports the automatic generation of QR code (called “hazardous chemical safety information codes”) for registered hazardous chemicals. Following the “One enterprise, one chemical product, and one QR code” principle, hazardous chemical management based on QR code was previously expected to be fully implemented in China this year. However, it appears that the plan is overly ambitious given the difficulties in resuming production and supply chain paralysis due to COVID curbs, the lack of legislative supports, etc. (CL news)
China to Implement New Standards on Inspection of Export Packaging of Dangerous Goods
The SN/T 0370-2021 serial standards for inspection of export packaging of dangerous goods will come into force on June 1, 2022, replacing the SN/T 0370-2009 serial standards that have been in effect since 2010. (CL news)
Taiwan, China
Taiwan Releases the Application Process for Using Recycled PET Chips and Flakes in Food Container and Packaging Manufacturing (May 12, 2022)
To in line with the international trend of circular economy, Taiwan released an application process to help enterprises using recycled PET chips and flakes in food container and packaging manufacturing on May 12, 2022. ChemLinked summarized the main content. (CL news)
Taiwan EPA Makes Public the Inspection Results of Environmental Agents throughout 2021 (May 17, 2022)
On May 17, 2022, Taiwan’s Environment Protection Administration (EPA) announced the results of 2021 inspection on the selling and advertising of environmental agents. The Taiwan EPA calls on the public to minimize the use of environmental agents, emphasizing that environmental rectification is the best cure for pest prevention. Selling or advertising environmental agents online without a permit will be fined. (CL news)
Taiwan to Ban PVC in Food and Feed Packaging from July 1, 2023
Following the PVC packaging ban in South Korea and New Zealand, Taiwan recently announced to ban the manufacturing, importation and sales of certain products whose packaging contain polyvinylchloride (PVC) from July 1, 2023. (CL news)
Japan
Japan: GHS Rev. 6 to Apply as of May 25, 2022
Japan has aligned its JIS Z 7252 and 7253 standards on chemical classification, labelling and safety data sheets (SDSs) with the GHS Rev.6. Chemical suppliers have until May 24, 2022 to adopt the requirements and update their SDSs and labels. These laws have different applicable scopes, but all refer to the same standards on the criteria for classification, labeling and SDS preparation. (CL news)
South Korea
South Korea to Publish WoE Guidelines for All Toxicity Endpoints by 2027
To meet the needs of the K-REACH regulation, chemicals companies may need to carry out tests on animals. However, animal tests can be avoided if there is a weight of evidence (WoE) which points to the likely properties of a substance. As more and more companies are calling for change in the way that chemical safety is assessed for regulatory purposes, the authority is piloting projects to develop alternatives to animal testing. (CL news)
South Korea to Implement Tighter K-BPR Labelling and Advertising Regulations
On April 29, 2022, the South Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) issued the MoE Announcement No.2022-248 to announce the draft Regulation for Labeling and Advertising of Household Chemical Products. Public comments are welcome before June 7, 2022. Wording, which implies the products regulated under K-BPR are not toxic or not harmful to the environment and humans, is prohibited to be used in labeling and advertising. (CL news)
South Korea Consults on Adding Eight Reproductive Toxic Substances as “Hazardous Substances subject to Control”
South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) is consulting on amendments to the Standard of Occupational Safety and Health. The consultation will close on June 7, 2022 (MoEL Notice 2022-201). Eight substances will be listed into the Annex 12 of the Standard of Occupational Safety and Health for special control. (CL news)
Australia
Australia Modifies Information Requirements of A Chemical Listed on AIIC (May 4, 2022)
On May 4, 2022, the Australian Government published a notice to announce the variation of specific information requirements of 1H-1,4,7-triazonine, octahydro-1,4,7-trimethyl- (CAS No. 96556-05-7) according to Section 93 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019. (CL news)
Australia Adds 6 Chemicals into Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (May 13, 2022)
On May 13, 2022, Australia made public a notice1 to announce the addition of 6 chemicals to the Australia Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC). According to Section 82 of the Industrial Chemical Act 2019, these 6 chemicals were added into AIIC because 5 years have passed since the assessment certificates were issued. (CL news)
Australia Adds One Chemical into Australia Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (May 19, 2022)
On May 19, 2022, the Australia Government published a notice1 to announce the addition of a chemical (CAS No. 121375-93-7) to the Australia Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC). (CL news)
Australia Publishes 9 Completed Evaluations Covering 1,415 Industrial Chemicals (May 30, 2022)
On May 30, 2022, the Australia Government published a notice to announce the publication of 9 completed evaluations. Compared with the draft versions that were issued for public consultation (due by March 28, 2022), there are some changes in the completed versions. For example, the evaluation statement of 1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triamine (melamine) (CAS No.108-78-1) has been amended to explain hazard information. (CL news)
Thailand
31 Aug 2022: Deadline for 2021 Annual Report on Safety Storage of Hazardous Substances under the Authorization of Thailand DIW
On April 11, 2022, Thailand Department of Industrial Works (DIW) published in the Government Gazette the revised regulation Notification of the Department of Industrial Works Re: Criteria and Procedures for Registration of Specialized Person Responsible for Safety Storage of Hazardous Substances and Reporting of Safety Storage of Hazardous Substances under Authorization of DIW (Notification B.E. 2565 (2022), hereinafter referred to as Notification). The Notification took effect on May 1, 2022, and the previous version Notification B.E. 2551 (2008) was repealed at the same time. (CL news)
India
India Consults on Draft Standard for Tooth Whitening and Bleaching Products (May 6, 2022)
On May 6, 2022, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued a draft standard for tooth whitening and bleaching products (hereinafter referred to as the Standard). The deadline for comments is July 5, 2022. (CL news)
India Delays Implementation of Quality Control Orders for Six SubstancesIn May 2022, India's Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals published amendments on the implementation dates of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for six substances. Details are shown in the table below. (CL news)
India Publishes Quality Control Orders for 8 Chemicals
On April 27, 2022, India's Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers published Quality Control Orders for 8 chemicals, which will come into force 181 days after their promulgation in the Official Gazette. The Orders do not apply to chemicals for export only. (CL news)
India to Revise Standards for Two Raw Materials for Paints and Varnishes
On April 27, 2022, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published the draft amendments to two standards for barium sulphate and rutile titanium dioxide, which are used as raw materials in paint industry. The comments are welcome until: 30 June for barium sulphate and 5 July for rutile titanium dioxide. (CL news)
India Consults on Draft Chemical Standards
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published 8 draft new standards and 4 draft revised standards for chemical substances used in plastics, resins, moulding and extrusion materials in April 2022 for comments. The standards prescribe requirements, methods of sampling and testing for these substances. (CL news)
Vietnam
Vietnam to Revise Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT for Implementation of Law on Chemicals
On April 28, 2022, Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued draft amendments to the Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT which was effective on December 28, 2017 as implementation guidelines to the Decree No. 113/2017 and the Law on Chemicals. Comments are welcome before June 26, 2022. In 2021, the Vietnam Chemical Agency conducted a survey on the implementation of the Law on Chemical, especially on enterprises’ opinions on whether the guidance documents meet actual needs, and the solutions to improve the management efficiency and feasibility of the Law, etc. Based on the survey results, amendments to Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT are drafted. (CL news)
Malaysia
Malaysia Amends Occupational Safety and Health Act
The Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Act 2022 was passed by Parliament of Malaysia on March 16, 2022. This includes the addition of 2 new parts, 10 new sections and the new Fourth and Fifth Schedules, the removal of 2 sections, the substitutions of 4 existing sections and amendments of 34 existing sections. (CL news)
Singapore
Singapore Consults on Two Standards for Water-based Paints
On April 4, 2022, the Enterprise Singapore published two draft standards for water-based paints. The standards apply to water-based enamel paints, and water-based primers for metal and wood. The consultation ended on May 5, 2022. (CL news)
