Updates on Chemical Regulation in Asia-Pacific Region | May 2022
🇨🇳Chinese Mainland
China Plans to Apply Hazchem QR Codes Extensively
China’s new Hazardous Chemical Registration Comprehensive Service System was launched on February 16, 2022, which supports the automatic generation of QR codes (called “hazardous chemical safety information codes”) for registered hazardous chemicals.
Since the QR code cannot be generated unless the registration information is completed, information supplementation in the new system is a necessary step to enable the smooth roll-out of the QR code policy. Although no penalty is imposed if failing to supplement the information in time currently, enterprises are highly recommended to respond to the call from local registration offices. (Read more)
China to Strengthen Safety Supervision and Administration of Transport of Dangerous Goods by Vessels
On May 11, 2022, the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China (MoT) issued the draft amendments to the Provisions on the Safety Supervision and Administration of Transport of Dangerous Goods by Vessels to solicit public comments. The consultation will end on June 11, 2022. Tighter administrative penalties will be imposed on violations regarding the transportation of dangerous goods by vessels are further clarified in the Provisions. (Read more)
China Releases Action Plan for New Pollutants Treatment
General Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China officially released the approved Action Plan for New Pollutants Treatment, according to Notice No.15 of 2022 issued on May 24, 2022, which vows to improve China’s new pollutants treatment capacity significantly by 2025.
Highlights of the approved Action Plan for New Pollutants Treatment are summarized as follows:
- Laws, regulations, and management systems on chemical-related environmental issues will be gradually established and improved.
- Source control management will be strengthened to prevent the generation of new pollutants.
- Chemical inspection and monitoring are required to evaluate environmental risks and accurately identify new high-risk pollutants. (Read more)
China Updates Civil Explosives List
On May 24, 2022, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security issued a notice, announcing the amendments to the List of Explosives for Civil Use. To further develop the safety management of explosives, the List was revised according to the Regulation on the Safety Administration of Explosives for Civil Use. The amendments are made on Part 5 \”Raw Materials\” of the List. (Read more)
China to Revise Measures on Storage of Dangerous Goods Transported by Air
On May 25, 2022, the Transport Division, Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued a notice to solicit public comments on the draft Administrative Measures for the Temporary Storage of Dangerous Goods Transported by Air. Comments are welcome before June 17, 2022. Rules for temporary storage of dangerous goods are introduced. (Read more)
🇨🇳Taiwan, China
Taiwan Releases the Application Process for Using Recycled PET Chips and Flakes in Food Container and Packaging Manufacturing
To in line with the international trend of circular economy, Taiwan released an application process to help enterprises using recycled PET chips and flakes in food container and packaging manufacturing on May 12, 2022. The main content is summarized. (Read more)
Taiwan to Ban PVC in Food and Feed Packaging from July 1, 2023
Following the PVC packaging ban in South Korea and New Zealand, Taiwan recently announced to ban the manufacturing, importation and sales of certain products whose packaging contain polyvinylchloride (PVC) from July 1, 2023. (Read more)
🇯🇵Japan
Japan: GHS Rev. 6 to Apply as of May 25, 2022
Japan has aligned its JIS Z 7252 and 7253 standards on chemical classification, labeling, and safety data sheets (SDSs) with the GHS Rev.6. Chemical suppliers have until May 24, 2022 to adopt the requirements and update their SDSs and labels. These laws have different applicable scopes, but all refer to the same standards on the criteria for classification, labeling and SDS preparation. (Read more)
🇰🇷South Korea
17,263 Substances Pre-registered under K-REACH
On March 31, 2022, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) published the updated list of pre-registered substances under K-REACH. So far, a total of 212,992 pre-registration applications were submitted for 17,263 chemical substances, of which 76 are CMR substances. About 9% of the pre-registered substances are manufactured or imported over 1,000 tonnes per year. The Ministry of Environment urges the stakeholders involved with existing chemical substances to speed up the registration work before the end of grace period. (Read more)
South Korea to Publish WoE Guidelines for All Toxicity Endpoints by 2027
To meet the needs of the K-REACH regulation, chemicals companies may need to carry out tests on animals. However, animal tests can be avoided if there is a weight of evidence (WoE) which points to the likely properties of a substance. As more and more companies are calling for change in the way that chemical safety is assessed for regulatory purposes, the authority is piloting projects to develop alternatives to animal testing. (Read more)
🇦🇺Australia
Australia Modifies Information Requirements of A Chemical Listed on AIIC (May 4, 2022)
On May 4, 2022, the Australian Government published a notice to announce the variation of specific information requirements of 1H-1,4,7-triazonine, octahydro-1,4,7-trimethyl- (CAS No. 96556-05-7) according to Section 93 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019. (Read more)
Australia Adds 6 Chemicals into Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (May 13, 2022)
Australia Adds One Chemical into Australia Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (May 19, 2022)
On May 19, 2022, the Australia Government published a notice1 to announce the addition of a chemical (CAS No. 121375-93-7) to the Australia Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AIIC). (Read more)
Australia Publishes 9 Completed Evaluations Covering 1,415 Industrial Chemicals (May 30, 2022)
On May 30, 2022, the Australia Government published a notice to announce the publication of 9 completed evaluations. Compared with the draft versions that were issued for public consultation (due by March 28, 2022), there are some changes in the completed versions. For example, the evaluation statement of 1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triamine (melamine) (CAS No.108-78-1) has been amended to explain hazard information. (Read more)
🇮🇳India
India Publishes Quality Control Orders for 8 Chemicals
On April 27, 2022, India\’s Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers published Quality Control Orders for 8 chemicals, which will come into force 181 days after their promulgation in the Official Gazette. The Orders do not apply to chemicals for export only. (Read more)
🇻🇳Vietnam
Vietnam to Revise Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT for Implementation of Law on Chemicals
On April 28, 2022, Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued draft amendments to the Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT which was effective on December 28, 2017 as implementation guidelines to the Decree No. 113/2017 and the Law on Chemicals. Comments are welcome before June 26, 2022. In 2021, the Vietnam Chemical Agency conducted a survey on the implementation of the Law on Chemical, especially on enterprises’ opinions on whether the guidance documents meet actual needs, and the solutions to improve the management efficiency and feasibility of the Law, etc. Based on the survey results, amendments to Circular No. 32/2017/TT-BCT are drafted. (Read more)
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