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China NHC Proposed Amendment Overhauling the Pending Mandatory Standard for Ingredients of Disinfectants (September 3rd, 2020)
On September 3rd, 2020, the Chinese National Health Commission issued the amendment to GB 388750-2020 Lists of Material and Restricted Substances in Disinfectants, which is due to take effect on November 1, 2020. The standard was promulgated earlier this year and caused debate on the limited number of permitted inert ingredients. Industries have strongly criticized that the standard would pose interference with current enforcing practice and hindrance to innovative development. In this amendment, some mandatory requirements on the ingredients have been relaxed. (CL News)
New Chemical Registration in China: Follow-up Management after Registration Will Be a Priority, Say MEE Officials (September 3th, 2020)
At a two-day workshop on environmental management registration of new chemical substances in Beijing, officials from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) emphasized that follow-up management is going to be a priority in their regulatory practices, and that random checks of compliance for record notifications of polymers will be given particular importance. They also revealed that MEE is drafting three technical specifications to facilitate the upcoming implementation of MEE Order No. 12. (CL news)
New Chemical Registration in China: Industry Speaks out on China’s New Regulatory Scheme (September 4th, 2020)
Also at the workshop mentioned above, representatives from enterprises and laboratories nationwide expressed their concerns over MEE Order No.12 and the Guidance on Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (Draft). The focus of their attention included possibility of expanding exemptions, risk evaluation of PBT substances, data sources, information protection, etc. (CL news)
China NCIA Consults on two Group Standards for Antibacterial and Antiviral Coatings (September 14th, 2020)
On September 14th, 2020, China National Coating Industry Association (NCIA) issued a notice to solicit public feedback on two draft group standards for antibacterial and antiviral coatings. One group standard is Antibacterial and Antiviral Coatings, and the other is Test Method for Determining for the Antiviral activity of Coatings. The consultation will be concluded on October 14th, 2020. Technical requirements in Antibacterial and Antiviral Coatings are similar to those in HG/T 3950-2007 Antibacterial Coating. Additionally, antibacterial and antiviral coatings for specific use situation shall also comply with the limits of hazardous substances specified in corresponding national standard, including GB 18581, GB 18582, GB 30981, etc. (CL News)
China CNLIC Publishes Guidance on Classification and Labeling of Degradable Plastic Products (September 15th, 2020)
On September 15th, 2020, the China National Light Industry Council (CNLIC) issued the Guidance on Classification and Labeling of Degradable Plastic Products to help businesses to classify and label degradable plastic products in a compliant manner. Targeting particularly manufacturers and distributors of degradable plastic products as well as retailers and catering businesses, the Guidance is applicable to the identification management of degradable plastics and their products in the production and circulation processes. (CL news)
China to Revise the Provisions on Safety Administration of Railway Transport of Dangerous Goods (September 17th, 2020)
On September 17th, 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Transport issued a notice on its website, announcing to solicit public comments on the draft revision to the Provisions on Safety Administration of Railway Transport of Dangerous Goods. The draft revision is formulated referring to relevant higher-level laws and regulations, international practices and experience from sectors like road transport, waterway transport, etc. (CL news)
China Publishes the First Batch of Obsolete Technologies and Equipment to be Phased out in Hazardous Chemical Production (September 27th, 2020)
On September 27th, 2020, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) published the List of Obsolete Technologies and Equipment to be Phased out in Hazardous Chemical Production (Batch 1) for public scrutiny. It specifies 4 obsolete technologies and 8 kinds of obsolete equipment, among which 6 are to be prohibited and 6 others are to be restricted, and provides the scope of limitations, time limits and recommended alternative technologies or equipment. Individuals or businesses with any dissenting opinion can submit their comments or suggestions before October 16th. (Read more)
China MEE Consults on the Autumn and Winter Action Plan on Air Pollution Management in Northern Key Areas (September 28th, 2020)
On September 28th, 2020, the MEE issued the draft Air Pollution Comprehensive Management Action Plan in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Surrounding Area and the Fenhe and Weihe plain in 2020-2021 Autumn and Winter and solicited public comments. The action plan emphasizes the implementation of the differentiated management system, and strengthen the emergency response to heavy pollution weather. For relevant industries in the north of China, industrial structure adjustment guidance and policy support are also provided. (Read More)
China Updates the Guideline to Develop Emergency Response Plans for Workplace Accidents (September 29th, 2020)
On September 29th, 2020, the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) issued GB/T 29639-2020 Guidelines for enterprises to develop emergency response plan for work place accidents, which will enter into effect and replace GB/T 29639-2013 on April 1st, 2021. GB/T 29639 provides enterprises with the preparation procedure and content system of emergency response plans for workplace accidents, as well as the main content and attachment information of the general emergency response plan, special emergency response plan, and on-site response plan. (CL News)
Taiwan, China
Taiwan Updates Toxic Chemical Substance List (September 18, 2020)
On September 18, 2020, Taiwan EPA listed Dicofol into the Toxic Chemical Substance List (TCSL) as Class 1 and 3 toxic chemical and implemented a blanket ban on it. In addition, the management on several POPs that were previously listed as toxic chemical were tightened, e.g. POSF, PFOA, PBDEs, PFOS, etc. (CL news)
Taiwan to Revise New and Existing Chemical Registration Fees (September17, 2020)
On September17, 2020, Taiwan EPA issued a proposed revision to the Standard on Toxic Chemical Substances Handling Application Fee and Chemical Registration Fee. The fees for dossier review, registration extension, CBI protection, etc. are updated. The fees for issuance or modification of a certificate are deleted since the registration certificate will no longer be issued and only a registration number will be provided. In addition, a 25% reduction in the dossier review fee is proposed to encourage alternatives to animal testing and accelerate registration. (CL news)
Taiwan to Extend Registration Deadline of 106 PECs
In view of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the chemical industry, Taiwan’s Toxic and Chemical Substance Bureau (TCSB) has decided to extend the registration deadline for the 106 PECs for at least one year. There is also the possibility of unifying the deadline to the end of 2023 regardless of the annual volume of the PECs. The TCSB has started a legal revision of the Regulation of New and Existing Chemical Registration to align with the possible extension. (CL news)
South Korea
South Korea Consults on Updates to GHS Classification List (September 2, 2020~September 22, 2020)
On September 2, 2020, South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) consulted on the classification and labelling information of 45 new toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2020-1-1001~2020-1-1045). In addition, the classification and labeling information for 11 previously published toxic substances and 1 restricted substance will be updated. (CL news)
South Korea Consults on Hazard Evaluation Results of New Substances Registered under K-REACH (September 4, 2020~September 24, 2020)
On September 4, 2020, the NIER consulted on the hazard evaluation results of new chemical substances registered under K-REACH by NIER Notice No. 2020-412, including adding hazard evaluation results of 97 new substances (2020-170~2020-266) and updating the hazard evaluation results of several new substances previously assessed. (Read more)
South Korea Consults on Amendments on Testing Methods of Chemicals (September 22, 2020~October 12, 2020)
On September 22, 2020, NIER issued a notice on the amendments on the test methods of chemicals experiments and sought opinion from the public. The revision this time is a response to the amendments of OECD Test Guidelines, including amendments to 20 test methods for health toxicity and 3 for physicochemical properties. (Read more)
South Korea Revised OSHA Enforcement Decree (September 8, 2020)
On September 8, 2020, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour (MOEL) issued the revised Enforcement Decree of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). It came into force on September 10, 2020. The harmful materials prohibited from being manufactured, imported, transported, supplied or used (Article 87) and the harmful materials requiring permission (Article 88) are updated. (Read more)
Australia
Australia AICIS Publishes Extra Guidance on Categorization of Polymers (September 2nd, 2020)
On September 2nd, 2020, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) published extra information to help categorize the introduction of polymers in Australia. This extra guidance, which must be followed in conjunction with the categorization guidance, provides a clear picture of the categorization of polymers. According to the scheme, which officially took effect on July 1st this year, anyone who imports or manufactures (introduces) industrial chemicals into the country for commercial purposes must register their business with the AICIS and categorize each introduction. (CL news)
Japan
Japan Revises Draft Adjustment to Subject Substances under PRTR (September 1st, 2020)
On September 1st, 2020, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MoE) released a document on the draft adjustment to the lists of substances subject to the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) law. The adjustment proposed to increase the number of Class 1 substances and Class 2 substances from 462 to 522 and from 100 to 134. Specifically, 258 substances will be newly added and 164 be removed from the existing lists. The additions and removals proposed are different from those in drafts published in February and April this year (see CL news).
Further changes are expected until the official version comes out. (Read more)
Japan MHLW Publishes the Third Batch of New Chemicals Registered under ISHL (September 25th, 2020)
On September 25th, 2020, the Notice No. 327 of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) was published, announcing the third batch of new chemical substances registered under the Industrial Safety and Health Law (ISHL) this year. The substance information released consist of three parts: serial numbers, substance names and gazette compilation numbers. Notably, the gazette compilation numbers are consistent with MITI numbers under the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL). (Read more)
Thailand
Thailand Joins OECD’s Mutual Acceptance of Chemical Safety Data Agreement (September 7th, 2020)
On September 7th, 2020, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced that Thailand had joined the OECD system for Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) in the assessment of chemicals. The MAD system is a multilateral agreements, which allows the participating countries to share the results of various non-clinical safety tests done on chemicals and chemical products. Currently, all 37 OECD member countries and 7 full adherents, namely Argentina, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand, are MAD participating countries. (CL News)
Philippines
Philippines to Reinstate the Licensing Requirements for Certain Household/Urban Hazardous Substances (September 3rd, 2020)
On September 3rd, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Philippines issued Advisory No. 2020-1599, announcing the Implementation of FDA Circular No. 2020-0025, namely the Implementing Guideline for Administrative Order No. 2019-0019 Reinstatement of Requirements of Licensing as Importers, Exporters, Manufacturers, Toll Manufacturers, Wholesalers, Distributors, Retailers, or Re-Packers of Those Engaged in Certain Household/Urban Hazardous Substances, and from the Requirement of Prior Registration and/or Notification of Said Products. The business operators, including manufacturers, importers, exporters, packers, traders, wholesalers, etc. of five categories of HUHS products shall comply with the reinstated licensing requirements. (CL news)
