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Taiwan has adopted the newly revised Toxic Chemical Substance Control Act (Taiwan TCSCA), promulgated by Presidential Order on 11 Dec 2013. The revised TCSCA includes 17 newly introduced or amended articles. The revised TCSCA will take effect 1 year after its promulgation on 11 Dec 2014.
A new round of Supplemental Existing Chemical Substance Nomination (SECN) will be opened in Q1 or Q2 of 2014 (probably Q1) to update the existing chemical substances inventory (ECSI). The ECSI serves as the basis for screening out priority chemicals for step-wise existing chemical registration and also for judging whether a substance is new and subject to new chemical registration (ChemLinked news 25 Oct, ChemLinked news 25 Nov). The length of the upcoming SECN period is still uncertain. The last round of SECN ended on 31 Aug 2012 (ChemLinked news 19 Sep). For the last SECN, chemical substances which were imported, manufactured, handled, used, or sold in Taiwan from 1 Jan 1993 to 31 Dec 2011, which had not already been listed in ECSI (draft) as existing chemical substances were eligible for nomination. Using the last SECN as a gauge we can expect the cut off point for eligibility to be extended to the end of 2013. Based on this potential extension, manufacturers or importers of some new chemicals should take advantage of the time left before the end of 2013 to circulate chemicals in Taiwan. The obvious advantage of this action confers eligibility for inclusion into the ECSI via the next round of SECN and ultimately exemption from the burdensome regulatory requriements of new chemical registration under the revised TCSCA.
To help foster communication between industry and regulators, Taiwan’s EPA conducted over 20 seminars across Taiwan to outline many of the impending changes in the new TCSCA particularly those relating to new and existing chemical registration (ChemLinked news 13 Sep). These seminars which were attended by industry and relevant stakeholders also provided a key chance for industry to voice their concerns relating to the amended TCSCA. The specifics of the implementation regulations are currently being fleshed out and will be published for public consultation and hearing in the Q1 or Q2 in 2014, including:
Regulation for the Registration of Chemical Substances (to be drafted);
Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act Enforcement Rules (to be revised)
Regulation for the Approval of Class 4 Toxic Chemical Substances (to be drafted);
Regulation for the Review of Chemical Substance Registration Applications (to be drafted);
Toxic Chemical Substances Labeling and Materials Safety Data Sheets Regulations (to be revised)
Toxic Chemical Substances Handling Application Fee Standards (to be revised)
Regulations for the Toxic Chemical Substances Disaster Emergency Vehicles (to be drafted jointly with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications).
