Request a Demo
Chinese Mainland
China MEE Issues Comprehensive Directory of Environmental Protection (2021) (November 2, 2021)
On November 2, 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued a notice to publish the Comprehensive Directory of Environmental Protection (2021), which is the revision based on its 2017 version. The 2021 Directory contains two parts. The first part is the directory of 932 products that are highly polluting and of high environmental risks (a.k.a. ‘dual high’ products), of which 159 are stipulated with manufacturing technologies that can be exempted from control. The second part is the directory of 79 priority pieces of equipment used in environmental protection. (CL news)
China to Standardize Application and Issuance of Pollutant Permit for Industrial Solid Waste
The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the "Notice on the Management of Industrial Solid Waste Discharge Permits (Draft)" for public consultation. The deadline for comments is November 4, 2021. China will formulate standards to facilitate including solid waste in pollutant discharge permit system. (CL news)
China Consults on the Application of QR Code in Pollutant Discharge Outlet (November 8, 2021)
On November 8, 2021, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MOE) consulted on the Technical Specification for QR Code Identification of Pollutant Discharge Outlet of Pollutant Discharge Unit (Draft). The basic principles and management and implementation requirements, etc, are proposed to further standardize the application of QR code in pollutant discharge outlet in China. The deadline for comments is December 12, 2021. (CL news)
China Expects Mandatory Standard for Prohibited Substances in Automobiles
GB/T 30512-2014 Requirements for Prohibited Substances in Automobiles has been under revision for years since 2017 when the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China (MIIT) published a plan to initialize the revision work. The revised version is expected to come in later this year. The latest revision includes the change of the name of the standard, the expansion of the scope of vehicle types and prohibited substances, the update of the exemption list, etc. (CL news)
China Opens National Online System for Precursor Chemicals Management (November 15, 2021)
On November 15, 2021, the Narcotics Control Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security of China launched the new national online system for the management of precursor chemicals (hereinafter referred to as System). The original systems for precursor chemicals management in different provinces and cities across China are expected to be shut down before 2022. Stakeholders (e.g., importers, exporters, purchasers, manufactures, transporters) are required to register with the System in time as those local ones are going to be out of service. That is to say, since 2022, relevant enterprises shall apply for licenses for manufacture, permits for import/export and record-keeping for purchasing or distribution, etc. (CL news)
China Consults on the Recommended List of Alternatives to HCFCs (November 19, 2021)
On November 19, 2021, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) consulted on the Recommended List of Alternatives to Hydrochlorofluorocarbons in China, aiming to phase out HCFCs as part of its efforts to implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in China. The deadline for comments is December 31, 2021. (CL news)
China to Further Strengthen the Prevention and Control of Heavy Metal Pollution (November 24, 2021)
On November 24, 2021, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published a notice to seek public feedbacks on the Opinions on Further Strengthening the Prevention and Control of Heavy Metal Pollution (Draft) (hereinafter referred to as ‘Draft Opinions’). The consultation will end on December 3, 2021. Two goals are set in the Draft Opinions. (CL news)
Taiwan, China
Taiwan Publishes Revision to Regulation of Priority Management Chemicals (November 5, 2021)
On November 5, 2021, the revision to Taiwan’s Regulations Governing Designating and Handling of Priority Management Chemicals was approved. The Revision took effect immediately, except for Article 6 to Article 9 which will come into force on April 1, 2022. Compared to the latest version of draft amendments, there were no changes in this final revised version. (CL news)
Taiwan Extends 106 PECs Registration Deadline to the End of 2024 (November 23, 2021)
On November 23, 2021, the revision to Taiwan’s New and Existing Chemical Registration was published and took effect immediately. Compared with the previous draft version released on May 24, 2021 (ChemLinked news), the amendments are remained the same except for two adjustments in the final revision, including extending the deadline for the registration of 106 priority existing chemicals (PECs) to December 31, 2024 and maintain the official review period unchanged to reduce registrants' pressures associated with the time limit and to improve the registration efficiency. (CL news)
South Korea
South Korea Updates Quantity Limits for Hazardous Chemicals that Require Submitting Chemical Accident Prevention Management Plan (November 5, 2021)
On November 5, 2021, the revision to the Regulation on the Stipulated Quantities for Toxic Substances, Restricted Substances, Prohibited Chemical Substances, and Substances subject to Authorizationevision was approved by MOE Announcement No.2021-220. Compared to the draft amendments (see below), there are no changes made in the final revised version. The amendments took effect immediately. (CL news)
K-REACH: Deadline for Registration Exemption Applications is Approaching (November 8, 2021)
On November 8, 2021, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) published a notice to inform enterprises that the due date for application for exemption confirmation of registration of existing chemical substances ≥1000t/a or CMRs ≥1t/a under K-REACH is December 24, 2021. If on-site confirmation is needed, the exemption application shall be submitted due by November 30, 2021. (CL news)
Japan
Japan Adds 24 Substances Requiring Export Permission from METI
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) revised the Ministerial Order Specifying Goods and Technologies Pursuant to the Provisions of the Appended Table 1 of the Export Trade Control Order and the Appended Table of the Foreign Exchange Order to add 24 substances in its Article 2 as the raw materials for chemical warfare agents. The Order will be implemented from December 15, 2021, after which the export of these substances (including mixtures wherein the content of any of the substances exceeds 30 % of the total weight) from Japan will require a permit from METI. (CL news)
Japan Publishes 2022 Schedule for Small-quantity Notification of New Chemicals
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of Environment (MoE) jointly published the 2022 schedule for small-quantity notification of new chemicals. As stipulated in Clause V, Article 3 (1) of Japan Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL), businesses to manufacture or import new chemical substances with environmental release volume of less than 1 ton/year across the nation are obliged to apply for small-quantity notification prior to manufacture or import. (CL news)
Vietnam
Vietnam Proposes Thresholds for POPs in Specific Products（November 12, 2021）
Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) is consulting on National Technical Regulation on Thresholds for Persistent Organic Pollutants in Articles, Products, Goods and Equipment, which was published on November 12, 2021. The deadline for comments is January 12, 2022. The draft NTR is expected to be applied from January 1, 2023, to businesses that import, produce, trade and use articles, products, goods and equipment containing POPs in Vietnam.
Australia
Australia Consults on 24 Draft Evaluation Statements
Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) published a notice to seek public feedback on the draft evaluation statements of 24 chemicals in accordance with the Rolling Action Plan. As clarified in the notice, most of the evaluated chemicals are used in adhesive and sealants, lubricants and greases, paints and coatings, air care products, plastic and polymer products, etc. Each of them has its own detailed draft evaluation statement. The consultation will end on December 17, 2021. (CL news)
30 Nov 2021: Deadline for Australia Annual Declaration under AICIS
The first annual declaration under AICIS is due by November 30, 2021, covering the period from July 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021 (after this the usual registration year applies: September 1 – August 31). Enterprises that are obliged to submit an annual declaration shall complete the submission as soon as possible before the deadline, ensuring the chemical activities in Australia are legal and compliant. （CL news）
Thailand
Thailand Updates Existing Chemicals Online Search Platform (November 2021)
Thailand’s old online search platform which was opened in 2019 for searching the First Thailand Existing Chemicals Inventory was recently shut down, instead a new online search platform was launched. However, some problems are identified in using the new platform. (CL news）
Thailand Implements GHS for Hazardous Substances Used in Fisheries (November 30, 2021)
On November 30, 2021, Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives issued in the Government Gazette the Notification of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Re: Hazard Classification and Communication System of Hazardous Substances Responsible for the Department of Fisheries B.E. 2564 (2021) (hereinafter referred to as the Notification), according to the third paragraph of Article 5 the Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535 (1992), and Article 20 (1) of the Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535 (1992) that has been amended by the Hazardous Substance Act (No.4) B.E. 2562 (2019). It stipulates that the hazardous substances (both single substance and mixture) used in fisheries shall comply with Globally Humorized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (the third revised edition of UN GHS, 2019). It took effect immediately. (CL news)
