Significant progress was made in chemical regulations in Asia in 2014. The Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs compiled a table of relevant chemical management regulations in Asia for manufacturers' reference. Furthermore, companies were reminded to pay attention to important developments and key audit areas in South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Malaysia over the next 12 months.
REACH in South Korea:
– Starting from January 1, 2015, the manufacture or import of new chemical substances and existing chemical substances with an annual tonnage of more than one ton are required to be reported annually, and registration regulations for new chemical substances and priority existing chemical substances will be implemented.
– Form a federation and simultaneously begin compiling registration files (including the registration of a small number of substances);
– Discussing data sharing matters with the EU REACH Association;
– Reporting procedures for products containing hazardous substances, including toxic, authorized, restricted, and prohibited substances;
High-risk products must meet safety and labelling standards. The competent authority will further publish details of the high-concern product classification and its safety and labelling standards.
China
– The "Administrative Measures for the Registration of Hazardous Chemicals" (Order No. 53 of the State Administration of Work Safety): The final version of the hazardous chemicals catalog has been updated, and enforcement agencies have been added;
– The "Measures for the Registration of Hazardous Chemicals for Environmental Management (Trial)" (Order No. 22 of the Ministry of Environmental Protection): Existing projects for the production and use of hazardous chemicals shall complete the environmental management registration for the production and use of hazardous chemicals within three years from the date of implementation of the "Measures" (before March 1, 2016).
– Ministry of Environmental Protection Order No. 7: Revision of Guidelines for the Declaration of New Chemical Substances
Taiwan
– Existing chemical substances approved under the Toxic Drug Control Act before March 31 (eligible chemical substances approved between January 2011 and December 2014);
New chemical substances must be registered with both the Environmental Protection Administration and the Ministry of Labor before they can be legally manufactured and imported.
– The designation of existing chemical substances in the six-year, four-phase program is ongoing, with the designated list expected to be published in 2016.
Malaysia
– Companies should complete the CLASS requirements by April 17, 2015. Based on Chapter 1 of the General Practice for Classification and Hazards of Chemicals (ICOP), companies should classify substances and prepare Material Safety Data Sheets and labels. Manufacturers must classify other substances not listed in Chapter 1 themselves.
– Set up a local 24-hour emergency hotline.
Manufacturers should prepare a material inventory and submit it to DOSH by March 31, 2016, in accordance with the CLASS specifications.
Sources:International Chemicals Policy Promotion Network (2015-03-02)
