Request a Demo
Updates: On November 4, 2022, Singapore notified WTO of the Draft Environmental Protection and Management Act 1999 (Amendment of Second Schedule) (No. 2) Order 2022 and the Draft Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2022 for a 60-day consultation. According to Notification G/TBT/N/SGP/66, Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) proposed to regulate 26 new chemicals and chemical groups as hazardous substances under the abovementioned act and regulations. These amendments are expected to be adopted and made public in the Republic of Singapore's Government Gazette in January 2023, and they will come into force in July 2023.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On June 13, 2022, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) issued a public consultation on adding 26 chemicals as hazardous substances (HS) under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations (EPM(HS) Regs). The deadline for comments is July 4, 2022.
Currently, these 26 chemicals are regulated by Singapore Customs under the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act and subject to licensing control for activities such as the import, export, production, processing, consumption, storage and/or local sales or distribution. Given that many of the 26 chemicals have wide industrial usage and some possess inherent toxic properties or can be used to manufacture chemicals with toxic properties, the Second Schedule of the EPMA and the Schedule of EPM(HS) Regs will be amended to include the 26 chemicals, and the NEA will co-regulate these chemicals with Singapore Customs to strengthen regulatory control over relevant activities.
In the future, companies perform activities involving any of the 26 chemicals shall adhere to the corresponding requirements:
Import, export, manufacture, offer for sale, transport, storage and/or use of the regulated chemicals – Companies will be required to obtain a HS license.
Purchase, storage and/or use of the regulated chemicals – Companies will be required to obtain a HS permit.
The NEA plans to release the final regulatory amendment by December 2022, and it will be followed by a six-month transitional period before the changes come into force by June 2023.
