The Asia-Pacific region is home to several of the world’s largest nations and many of its most dynamic economies. The governments in this region have generally established comprehensive environmental, health and safety policy frameworks, with a variety of approaches and enforcement mechanisms.

IPC monitors and engages in selected, high-priority EHS policy matters in the Asia-Pacific region. IPC white papers on evolving chemicals regulations in China, Japan, and South Korea provide a detailed look at the history of the policies, recent regulatory updates, and the regulatory trends in the respective countries. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Latest News

China Revises Regulations on Ozone-Depleting Substances: On May 19, 2020, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the draft revision to the Regulations on Administration of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS). Notably, the updated regulations will incorporate hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) into the regulatory framework. The decision was made in order to keep in pace with international conventions. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

China Publishes New Chemical Regulations: On April 29, 2020, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the Measures of Environmental Management and Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12), replacing the current new chemical regulation, Measures of Environmental Management of New Chemical Substances (MEP Order 7). MEE Order 12 “introduces substantial changes to the registration system for new chemical substances, and will likely have significant impacts on producers, importers, processors of the new chemical substances,” and will take effect on January 1, 2021. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

China Launches Online Safety Information System for Hazardous Chemicals: The National Registration Center for Chemicals (NRCC) launched an online platform allowing companies to search hazardous chemicals information such as identification; safety label elements; physical characteristics; hazard information; emergent measures; and inventories. The system also serves as a database for all current hazardous chemical regulations; chemical inventories; and chemical registration information. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Malaysia Updates List of Classified Chemicals: On February 11, 2020, Malaysia’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) published Part One of the Industry Code of Practice on Chemicals Classification and Hazard Communication (Amendment) 2019 (ICOP). ICOP was first approved on October 11, 2019, and Part One, which updates a list of classified chemicals, adds more than 400 chemicals to the previous 229 classified chemicals. ICOP is a guidance for chemical suppliers to comply with the provisions in Part Two of the Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013, which deals with chemical classification. Chemical suppliers should check if products contain any substances in the 2019 Amendment and, if so, reclassify products and update information accordingly. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

South Korea Updates Toxics Substances List: South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) approved an update on the Toxic Chemical Substances List (TCSL) on March 24, 2020. The update includes adding 13 chemicals into TCSL, modifying concentration limit of two toxic chemicals, and providing transitional measures for newly added toxic chemicals.

South Korea MoE Launches Online Platform for K-REACH Registration: On January 31, the South Korean Ministry of Environment launched the online data support platform for K-REACH registration. The platform contains a large amount of information on chemical and physical properties, and human health and environmental hazard data on 1,515 existing chemicals, collected from other countries and international organizations. The data set includes data sources and test methods for each chemical, which can be taken as reference for K-REACH registration. Please see detailed information on the chemical list and platform guide in their latest notice. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Taiwan Begins Annual Reporting of Registered New and Existing Chemicals: Beginning on April 1, Taiwan instituted a policy of mandatory reporting of new and existing chemical substances. Under the Regulations of New and Existing Chemical Registration, registrants should report their manufactured or imported new or existing chemical substances from the previous year. All reports are due by September 30. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Taiwan Releases Guidance for PECs Registration: On June 9, 2020, Taiwan finalized the Guidance on Existing Chemical Substances Standard Registration, which will help businesses navigate the priority existing chemical substances (PECs) registration process that formally began on January 1. There is a possibility that Taiwan will postpone the registration deadline for the 106 PECs currently listed for mandatory registration; stay tuned for updates. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon. 

Thailand Publishes Online Existing Chemical Inventory: Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works (DIW) recently published a new inventory of existing chemicals. While further details of obligations for the listed chemicals are yet to be confirmed, it is likely the inventory will be associated with the upcoming Chemical Substances Act, which has been proposed to replace Thailand’s current Hazardous Substances Act. Chemical regulation in Thailand is currently transitioning from “hazard-based to risk-based," and “the development of a national chemical inventory is an essential step needed in the country’s establishment of its new chemical law.” IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

Thailand Releases Hazardous Substance Licensing Tool: On April 16, the Thailand Department of Industrial Works (DIW) launched the Hazardous Substance Single Submission (HSSS) tool to help companies that intend to manufacture or import type 2 and type 3 hazardous substances apply for hazardous chemical registration and licensing. Corporations or individuals who intend to use this platform can submit the application form with the company certificate of registration or identification of individuals to activate the HSSS account. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.