Singapore Updates Exemptions for Dechlorane Plus and UV-328

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in May 2024 to analyze the ban on Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 in Singapore, and was updated on 13 November 2024 to introduce the exemptions for Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 .

By circular issued on November 12, 2024, the NEA announced the specific exemptions for Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 after careful consideration. The NEA has imposed a ban on the manufacture, import and export of these two POPs and products containing them. They will not be allowed in Singapore from February 26, 2025. However, the following uses and applications are exempted from the ban.

Chemical Substances	Allowable Exemptions for Manufacture, Import, Export and Use
Dechlorane Plus and its products	All medical devices listed in the First Schedule of the Health Products Act Aerospace Space and defence applications Replacement parts for, and repair of, articles where Dechlorane Plus was originally used in the manufacture of those articles for the following applications: i. Aerospace (such as aircraft engine fan case rub strip products and voidfilling and edge-sealing products, aircraft engine manufacturing repairs, electrical items, structural panels and aircraft cabin interiors) ii. Space (such as satellites, probes and other exploration equipment, manned cabins and laboratories, heat-insulating materials for rocket motors and ground support equipment) iii. Defence (such as naval vessels, missiles, launch platforms, ordnance, communication equipment, radar and lidar systems and support equipment) iv. Motor vehicles (covering all land-based vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, agricultural and construction vehicles and industrial trucks; applications include cables, wire harnesses, connectors and insulation tapes) v. Stationary industrial machines (such as tower cranes, concrete plants and hydraulic crushers; applications include cables, wire harnesses, connectors and insulation tapes) for use in agriculture, forestry and construction vi. Marine, garden, forestry and outdoor power equipment vii. Instruments for analysis, measurements, control, monitoring, testing, production and inspection Adhesives Fillers Plastics
UV-328 and its products	All medical devices listed in the First Schedule of the Health Products Act Parts of motor vehicles (covering all land-based vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, agricultural and construction vehicles and industrial trucks), such as bumper systems, radiator grills, spoilers, car garnish, roof modules, soft/hard tops, trunk lids and rear window wipers Industrial coating applications for motor vehicles, engineering machines, rail transportation vehicles, and heavy-duty coatings for large steel structures Mechanical separators in blood collection tubes Triacetyl cellulose (TAC) film in polarisers Photographic paper Replacement parts for articles where UV-328 was originally used in the manufacture of those articles for the following applications: i. Motor vehicles (covering all land-based vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, agricultural and construction vehicles and industrial trucks) ii. Stationary industrial machines (such as tower cranes, concrete plants and hydraulic crushers) for use in agriculture, forestry and construction iii. Liquid crystal displays in instruments for analysis, measurements, control, monitoring, testing, production and inspection (such as recorders, infrared radiation thermometers, digital storage oscilloscopes and radiographic testing instruments) Adhesives Fillers Plastics

Although there's no exemption period stipulated in the circular, the NEA will review these exemptions based on the availability of viable alternatives. Industry stakeholders will be consulted during such reviews.

Article originally published in May 2024:
On May 6, 2024, the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore announced an important update regarding the country’s commitment to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The effective date for the ban on Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328 in Singapore, as well as products containing them, has been revised to February 26, 2025.
Singapore, as a party to the Stockholm Convention, has agreed to adopt three additional chemicals - Dechlorane Plus, Methoxychlor, and UV-328 - into Annex A of the convention for elimination. This decision was made at the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention held in May 2023. In a circular published on 24 July 2023, NEA had previously informed local stakeholders that the manufacture, import, and export of these three chemicals and products containing them would be prohibited in Singapore effective 12 May 2024 (CL news). However, the NEA has now revised this timeline.
The listing of these POPs in Annex A (Elimination) of the Stockholm Convention was officially communicated via a Depositary Notification on 26 February 2024. In accordance with the convention text, such amendments enter into force for parties one year after the date of the Depositary Notification. Therefore, the effective date of the ban in Singapore has been revised from 12 May 2024 to 26 February 2025, aligning with the deadline stipulated by the Stockholm Convention. As for the specific exemptions related to these POPs, the NEA stated that more information will be communicated to stakeholders in due course.
The table below lists applicable HS Codes and Product Codes involving these three POPs.
Chemical
HS Code
HS Description
Product Code
Product Code Description
Dechlorane Plus
29038900
Other halogenated derivatives of cyclanic, cyclenic or cycloterpenic hydrocarbons (KGM)
PCDDEP111
Dechlorane Plus
UV-328
29339990
Other heterocyclic compounds with only nitrogen hetero atom(s) (KGM)
PCDUVA111
UV-328
Methoxychlor
38089130
Insecticides not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 in aerosol containers (KGM)
PCDMET116
Methoxychlor (insecticide) - in aerosol containers
38089191
Other insecticides having deodorising function not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 (KGM)
Methoxychlor (insecticide) - not in aerosol containers - having deodorising function
38089199
Other insecticides not having deodorising function not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 (KGM)
Methoxychlor (insecticide) - not in aerosol containers - not having deodorising function
38089990
Rodenticides & similar products not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 (KGM)
Methoxychlor (rodenticide & similar preparation)

Chemical	HS Code	HS Description	Product Code	Product Code Description
Dechlorane Plus	29038900	Other halogenated derivatives of cyclanic, cyclenic or cycloterpenic hydrocarbons (KGM)	PCDDEP111	Dechlorane Plus
UV-328	29339990	Other heterocyclic compounds with only nitrogen hetero atom(s) (KGM)	PCDUVA111	UV-328
Methoxychlor	38089130	Insecticides not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 in aerosol containers (KGM)	PCDMET116	Methoxychlor (insecticide) - in aerosol containers
	38089191	Other insecticides having deodorising function not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 (KGM)		Methoxychlor (insecticide) - not in aerosol containers - having deodorising function
	38089199	Other insecticides not having deodorising function not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 (KGM)		Methoxychlor (insecticide) - not in aerosol containers - not having deodorising function
	38089990	Rodenticides & similar products not specified in subheading note 1 or 2 of chap 38 (KGM)		Methoxychlor (rodenticide & similar preparation)