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Chinese Mainland
China Commits to Safer Transport of Dangerous Goods in Proposed Revision of Road Transport Regulations.
On November 2nd, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Transport (MOT) issued a notice to solicit comments on the draft revision of the Regulations on Road Transport. The draft revision states that dangerous goods will be subject to categorized licensing management. Businesses need to apply for licensing of road transport of dangerous goods based on their categories, and will not be allowed to carry those beyond the scope of their licensing. (ChemLinked news)
China Officially Releases the Second Batch of Priority Controlled Chemicals
On November 2nd 2020, China MEE released the Inventory of Priority Controlled Chemicals (Second Batch), which consists of 18 kinds/classes of chemicals that are dangerous to human health and the environment. Chemicals proposed to add to the Inventory are mass-produced in China and/or widely detected in the environmental media, those chemicals with a high potential environmental exposure, who exist simultaneously, are inherent hazards. They are human carcinogens such as benzene and o-toluidine, persistent organic pollutants such as PFOA and dioxins, etc. in the second batch of the inventory. Local administrations will take environmental risk control measures to minimize the impact of such chemicals at critical links of manufacturing and use. (ChemLinked News)
China MEE Consults on Supplementation of 245 Substances into IECSC
On November 17th, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published a notice to consult on the inclusion of 245 chemical substances into the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC). The 245 substances are the second batch of substances issued for public consultation after internal review. They were manufactured in or imported into China before October 15th, 2003, which fulfilled the IECSC supplementation criteria but missed the previous supplementation window. The first batch of substances, 156 in total, were included into the IECSC earlier on May 6th this year. (ChemLinked news)
China MEE Publishes Guidance to Support Implementation of MEE Order No. 12
On November 17th, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the Guidance on Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances, along with tables used in registration of new chemical substances and instructions for filling in the tables. For a detailed interpretation, read ChemLinked Expert Article: Understanding Newly Introduced Guidance for MEE Order No. 12. (for the news click here: ChemLinked news)
China Publishes 2021 National Inventory of Hazardous Wastes
On November 27th, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and four other departments jointly published the National Inventory of Hazardous Waste (2021 version), following two public consultations held in 2019. The existing version of the Inventory was published in March 2016 and came into effect on August 1st the same year. Major changes compared to the 2016 version lie in both the text and its entries. (ChemLinked news)
China Launches another Round of Special Campaigns to Address Safety of Hazardous Chemicals
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 keep aligned with the campaigns. (ChemLinked news)
China Shanghai Unveils Annual Follow-up Review of New Chemical Notification
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. (ChemLinked 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 inspection and supervision. (ChemLinked news)
Taiwan, China
Taiwan Publishes Regulations on the Management of Emergency Responders of the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances
On November 3, 2020, Taiwan published the Regulations on the Management of Emergency Responders of the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances to align with the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act (TCCSCA). It will come into force on July 1, 2021. (Read more)
Japan
Japan Published Official Revision to Test Methods of New Chemicals
On November 5th, 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Environment (MoE) published a notice announcing the official revision to test methods of new chemicals. After the public consultation held in August this year, the authorities incorporated part of the comments received and worked out the official revision. It is also made clear than test which start before December 17th, 2020 can still be conducted following the pre-revision methods. (Read more)
South Korea
South Korea Publishes Revised Standards for Classification and Labeling of Chemical Substances and Material Safety Data Sheet
On November 12, 2020, Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) published the revised Standards for Classification and Labeling of Chemical Substances and Material Safety Data Sheet by Public Notice No.2020-130. It will enter into force on January 16, 2021, the same implementation date of the revised Occupational Safety and Health Act (K-OSHA) .(ChemLinked news)
Solid Soap, Black Hair Powder and Hair Removal Entirely Transform From Chemicals to Cosmetics from 2021
On November 19, 2020, MFDS published a notice to remind the relevant enterprises to comply with the Cosmetics Act and other related supporting rules. As the grace period ends on December 31, 2020, the solid soap, black hair powder and hair removal wax will be officially managed as cosmetics. (ChemLinked Analysis Article)
South Korea Issues List of New Chemicals Registered in 2020 under OSHA
On November 27, 2020, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) issued the MOEL Announcement No.2020-448 a list of new chemical substances registered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 2020, including chemical names, CAS No., hazards, registered volume, related worker protection measures, etc. (Read more)
South Korea Updates GHS Classification List
Published on November 25, 2020 by NIER Announcement No.2020-52, 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 8 toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2020-1-1001~2020-1-1008) and revising the classification information of 6 toxic chemical substances that were previously designated. (Read more)
South Korea Designates 8 New Toxic Chemicals
On November 25, 2020, South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) listed 8 new substances as toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2020-1-1001~2020-1-1008) 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 2 toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2018-1-832, 2020-1-997) that were previously designated were updated. The updates came into effective immediately. (Read more)
South Korea to Revise Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of Chemical Control Act
On November 24, 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.2020-968 and No.2020-969 respectively. The revisions mainly focus on matters related to integrating the off-site impact assessment and risk management plan into the chemical accident prevention management plan, which are proposed to align with the revised CCA (Law No. 17182 of March 31, 2020). (Read more)
South Korea to Enforce the Amendment to the Management of Hazardous Substances in EEPs in 2021
On November 26th, 2020, the amendment to the enforcement decree of the Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles was approved, which was proposed by MoE in July. The amendment major 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. The supplementation of 23 kinds of electrical and electronic will take effect from January 1st, 2021, and the 4 kinds of phthalate esters in the products will be restricted from July 1st, 2021. (Read More)
Thailand
Thailand FDA to Further Standardize the Management on Transit of Hazardous Substances
On November 3rd, 2020, WTO notified members on Thailand’s Notification of the Food and Drug Administration RE: criteria, procedures and conditions for the notification, requesting permission, and issuance of the transit license relating to hazardous substances under the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration. The “transit” of hazardous substances were specified in Hazardous Substance Act No.4, which came into effect in October of 2019. Note that the FDA Notification on transit only applies to the hazardous substances for which FDA is responsible. As for the List of Hazardous Substances, FDA is in charge of List 4, which consists of 3 sub-lists for now. (ChemLinked News)
New Zealand
New Zealand to Adopt GHS Rev.7 Classification System on April 30, 2021
On November 5th, 2020, New Zealand EPA issued news titled Chemical management changes coming in 2021, which announces that the government has approved the application of the GHS Rev.7 classification system for hazardous substances. The new system will replace the current HSNO classification system and enter into effect on April 30th, 2021. The EPA notices on hazard communication and some of the group standards have been updated to incorporate GHS Rev. 7. An up to 4-year transitional period will be provided for hazardous substances approved before April 30th, 2021. (ChemLinked News)
