Request a Demo
Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs, CAS: 85535-84-8), Decabromobiphenyl ether (CAS: 1163-19-5) and Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (CAS: 87-68-3) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) controlled by Stockholm Convention since 2017. In response to international management trends of these substances, Taiwan EPA on Nov 6th, 2018 proposed to update the Toxic Chemical Substance List (click here to access the draft proposal). The proposed updates have been officially approved on Mar 5th, 2019, including
Designate Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) as a Class 1 toxic chemical substance due its propensity for bioconcentration and prohibit its use in toys and children's products
Regulate Decabromobiphenyl ether more stringently as both a Class 1 (for its bioaccumulation and bioconcentration) and Class 2 (for its reproductive toxicity) toxic chemical substance, and prohibit use in clothing and textile toys, etc.
Specify allowed uses for Decabromobiphenyl ether and SCCPs,
Implement a blanket ban on the manufacture, import, sale and use of Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene except for the purpose of research, experiment and education; and
Provide control measures and transitional period for the substances under Taiwan’s Toxic Chemical Substance Control Act (Taiwan TCSCA) in terms of substances handling, release quantity recording, transportation, etc. Click here to download the details and corresponding deadlines for compliance.
Decabromobiphenyl ether was controlled as a Class 4 toxic chemical substance in Taiwan since 1999. It was listed in the Stockholm Convention’s Annex A (Elimination) in 2017. Now it has been regulated more stringently as a Class 1 and Class 2 toxic chemical substance. In addition, its control concentration (w/w %) was reduced from 30 to 1. Large-scale handling standard was newly set as 50 kg.
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene is listed in Stockholm Convention’s Annex A (Elimination) and Annex C (Unintentionally production). Thus Taiwan EPA implemented a blanket ban on it.
Taiwan EPA has conducted a domestic investigation on the use of these three substances. SCCPs is a derivative of chlorinated paraffin products, mainly used for research, experiment and education. In addition, hexachloro-1,3-butadiene has no other use except for research, experiment and education. Decabromodiphenyl ether has been gradually phased out globally, so the operation volume in Taiwan has already been reduced. Therefore, the tightened regulation of these substances may have limited impact on the industry.
