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China MEE Publishes New Chemical Record Notification Statistics in the First Half of 2021 (September 1, 2021)
On August 31, 2021, Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE)released statistics on the new chemical substance record notifications in the first half of 2021. In total, 2,648 record notifications were received, covering more than 3,000 new chemical substances. The details include applicant (and its representative agent), time, receipt number, and the amount of new chemical substances recorded. (CL news)
China Receives Conformity Assessments for 18,420 Products under China RoHS 2
As of the end of July 2021, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) had received 12,369 conformity assessments submitted on its RoHS public service platform from 1,140 companies, involving 18,420 products, an increase of 2,555 since last December. For the 18,420 products, nearly 4,000 are air conditioners, accounting for the largest proportion of the total products. The products are confirmed with two different conformity assessment methods, of which 13,780 products use self-declaration and 4,640 products use certification. (CL news)
Fostering Green Finance in Pursuit of Carbon Neutrality, China in Action (September 7, 2021)
On September 7, 2021, the Green Finance and “Carbon Peak & Carbon Neutrality” Conference was held in China. The conference focused on how financial institutions practice green finance and increase the value of green investment. Representatives of outstanding enterprises in the green economy industry were invited to attend the conference, helping to match the cooperation between key industries and green finance related to carbon peak and carbon neutrality. (CL news)
China to Form a More Efficient National Carbon Trading Market (September 7, 2021)
On July 16, 2021, China launched the world's largest carbon trading market, a landmark in the country's efforts to go green. At the "International and Domestic Carbon Markets and Carbon Sink Economy Conference" held on September 7, 2021, speeches were given by professionals in this field to introduce the national carbon market in terms of trading volume and trading subjects, and the trends in the future. (CL news)
China Issues Action Plan to Control Plastic Pollution by 2025 (September 8, 2021)
On September 8, 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) released the Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan to further strengthen the plastic pollution control. China will make efforts to control plastic pollution from plastic reduction, plastic recycling and disposal and plastic waste cleaning, which will release the market demand for biodegradable plastics to a greater extent. (CL news)
China to Strengthen the Safety Requirements for Footwear
Under China's market surveillance, more and more attention is paid to hazardous chemicals in footwear materials that may be of high risk to human health due to the exposure to skin. A new standard, the Safety Requirements for Footwear, has been drafted based on EU REACH provisions and will replace GB 25038-2010, GB 25037-2010, GB 21536-2008 in the near future. It stipulates the safe specification and test methods for footwear products, and the limits of hazardous chemicals in footwear products. (CL news)
China to Launch Autumn and Winter Action Plan for Air Pollution Management in Key Regions (September 14, 2021)
On September 14, 2021, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the draft of 2021-2022 Autumn and Winter Action Plan for Comprehensive Atmospheric Pollution Management in Key Regions for comments. In addition to "2+26" cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region (referred to as the BTH2+26) and their surrounding areas and cities in the Fenwei Plain, 64 cities and 1 district in northern Hebei, northern Shanxi, eastern and southern Shandong, and southern Henan have been added in the plan. These cities are required to meet control targets for the average PM2.5 concentration and the number of severe pollution days from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. (CL news)
China Consults on the Second Revision of Vehicle Mark for Road Transportation of Dangerous Goods (September 14, 2021)
On September 14, 2021, the MoT released the second draft revision of GB 13392-2005 Vehicle Mark for Road Transportation Dangerous Goods for public comments. The deadline for submitting comments is September 30, 2021. The first draft revision was released in September 2020 and a total of 134 comments were collected, of which 64 comments were adopted, 28 were partially adopted, and 42 were rejected. (CL news)
China MEE Consults on the Draft Work Plan and Indicator System for “No-Waste City” Construction (September 15, 2021)
On September 15, 2021, Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued a notice to seek public feedback on the draft Work Plan for “No-Waste City” Construction During the 14th Five-Year Plan (the Work Plan), and the draft Indicator System for “No-Waste City” Construction (2021 edition) (the Indicator System). The public consultation will end on September 26, 2021. According to this Work Plan, chemical industries' main task is to accelerate the transformation to green industry and decline industrial solid waste landfill disposal. (CL news)
China to Revise Plan for 197 Carbon Peak Standards in 10 Industries (September 15, 2021)
On September 15, 2021, China's Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the formulation and revision plan for 197 carbon peak-related industry standards for public comments, including Technical Specification for Carbon Emission Verification in Petroleum and Chemical Industry. The deadline for submitting comments is October 15, 2021. These 197 carbon peak-related standards cover 10 industries, of which 161 standards belong to the category of energy conservation and comprehensive utilization, covering 9 kinds of industries. (CL news)
China Places Bigger Focus on VOCs Governance During the 14th Five-Year Plan (September 16, 2021)
Many provinces and cities in China are implementing or preparing local regulations to reduce VOCs emission. Zhejiang province, Shandong province and Shanghai city have already released local 14th Five-Year Plans on environmental management. For other provinces and cities like Tianjin province, Hunan province, Guangdong city, etc., similar measures may be taken soon or later. The Department of Ecology and Environment of Zhejiang Province released a guideline for VOCs management of source substitution, aiming to guide enterprises to produce and use low-VOCs products (coatings, printing inks, adhesives, etc.) and materials. The Guideline will take effect on October 8, 2021. (CL news)
China MEE Consults on Adding 23 Substances into IECSC (September 26, 2021)
On September 26, 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published a notice to consult on the addition of 23 substances into the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC). These substances were manufactured in or imported into China before October 15, 2003, which fulfilled the supplementation criteria but missed the previous supplementation window. (CL news)
Taiwan, China
Taiwan to Impose Hefty Penalty on Violations of Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act (September 1, 2021)
On August 31, 2021, Taiwan EPA released the revised Guidelines of the Criteria of Fines for Violating the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act to tighten controls over the listed toxic and concerned chemical substances. Companies engaged in the manufacture, import, export, sales, transport, use, storage or disposal of toxic, and concerned chemical substances in Taiwan shall comply will the Act, otherwise they will be punished greatly. (CL news)
Taiwan Revises Standards of Hazard Prevention for Specific Chemicals (September 16, 2021)
On September 16, 2021, the revision to Taiwan’s Standards of Hazard Prevention for Specific Chemicals was approved with the changes scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023. It is to strengthen management of 1,3-butadiene, 1,2-epoxypropane, formaldehyde, indium and its compounds, cobalt and its compounds, and naphthalene since epidemiological studies show that exposure to these chemicals may be carcinogenic, toxic, or cause respiratory disease. Besides, some requirements for the local exhaust ventilation devices were stipulated to enhance managements of the quality control at source. (CL news)
South Korea
South Korea Requires Dossier Submission for the First Group of Existing Biocidal Active Substances before October 31, 2021 (September 6, 2021)
On September 6, 2021, South Korea's online chemical management platform (CHEMP) released a notice to urge enterprises involved with the first group of existing biocidal active substances to speed up the data preparation and submission for approval under the Act on Safety Management of Household Chemical Products and Biocidal Products (K-BPR). (CL news)
K-BPR: MoE Designates Lubricants as Household Chemical Products Subject to Safety Confirmation (September 6, 2021)
On September 6, 2021, the South Korean online chemical management system (CHEMP) published a notice to inform importers and manufacturers of lubricants to start submitting approval application of “household chemical products subject to safety confirmation” under K-BPR. The manufacturers or importers of lubricants in South Korea shall apply for approval from January 1, 2022. However, enterprises can apply in advance via CHEMP since September 6, 2021. (CL news)
South Korea Designates 23 New Toxic Chemical Substances and Updates GHS Classification List (September 13, 2021)
On September 13, 2021, 23 toxic chemical substances (Given No. 2021-1-1057~2021-1-1079) were officially listed into the Toxic Chemical Substances List (TCSL) by NIER Announcement No.2021-62, with corresponding classification information, pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, M factors and UN No. They were registered and found toxic after the hazard evaluation under K-REACH. (CL news)
Japan
Japan to Ban PFOA for 13 Kinds of Imported Products from October 22 (September 1, 2021)
On August 30, 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) published the partial revision to the Import Clearance Procedures for the Chemical Substances under the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of Their Manufacture, etc. (known as the “Chemical Substance Control Law” (CSCL)). The major amendments align with the revised CSCL Enforcement Ordinance and will enter into force on October 22, 2021. (CL news)
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Publishes E-waste Management Rules
On June 10, 2021, Bangladesh's Department of Environment (DOE) published the Hazardous Waste (e-waste) Management Rules, 2021 under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995. It took effect immediately. The Rules will help the DOE to bring in all the producers of electrical and electronic waste manufacturers nationally under an adequate management system. (CL news)
New Zealand
New Zealand Consults on Amendments to HSNO Act
The Environment Committee is calling for public submissions on the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Hazardous Substances Assessments) Amendment Bill. It was introduced to New Zealand’s parliament on July 14, 2021, and it passed its first reading on August 10, 2021.The closing date for submissions is October 3, 2021. (CL news)
India
India Consults on Draft Standard for Toluene Diisocyanate Mixture
On August 2, 2021, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published a draft standard prescribing the requirements and the methods of sampling and test for toluene diisocyanate (TDI-80), which is a mixture of 80 percent 2,4-toluene diisocyanate and 20 percent 2,6- toluene diisocyanate. This proposed standard covers Type I (for low acidity) of toluene diisocyanate (TDI-80). The public consultation ended on September 1, 2021. (CL news)
Australia
Australia Consults on Amendments to the Industrial Chemical General Rules
Australia’s national chemicals regulator consulted on targeted amendments to the Industrial Chemicals (General Rules) 2019 and the Industrial Chemicals (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Rules 2019. The consultation ended on September 17, 2021. The proposed amendments relate to six matters, including criteria for industrial chemicals introduced at the nanoscale, annual declarations, etc. (read more)
Australia Publishes Roadmap for Evaluating Industrial Chemicals (September 17, 2021)
On September 17, 2021, Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) published a notice on the AICIS evaluations roadmap, which outlined the strategic approach for evaluating the human health and environmental risks of introducing and using industrial chemicals in Australia. The roadmap includes an explanation of chemicals that could be evaluated; evaluation goals and six action areas to achieve the goals; targets for 2024 and beyond, etc. (read more)
