〈各國環保法規〉彙整頁面 - Page 5 of 17

ZDHC Releases Guidelines for Chemical Substance Management in the Textile Industry

ZDHC Releases Guidelines for Chemicals Management in the Textile Industry. The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) recently released a new Chemical Management System (CMS) guide to assist textile mills, brand owners, retailers, and supply chains in establishing internal CMSs. The guide outlines the methods, structures, and documentation needed to support and support these internal systems in achieving ZDHC's goals. Cheryl Kreindler, ZDHC's Program Manager, stated that a robust chemical management system not only ensures employee safety and reduces negative environmental impacts on the community and the planet, but also represents a milestone in demonstrating a company's continued progress towards a zero-hazardous-discharge philosophy. ZDHC's chemical management system provides companies with comprehensive and practical processes for hazardous substances management, and can be easily implemented by companies throughout the supply chain. The guide is divided into five chapters and references the Plan, Do, Check, and Act cycle framework of ISO management systems. The management planning (Plan) phase includes the company's commitment to implementing the CMS, evaluation, and prioritization; the execution (Do) phase involves the implementation of chemical substance management; the check (Check) phase mainly focuses on monitoring after system implementation; and the audit (Act) phase...

2015-09-29

Sweden's TCO Edge certification aims to increase the recycled plastic content in displays.

Sweden's TCO Edge Certification Plans to Increase Recycled Plastic Content in Displays. In response to the global trend towards green environmental protection, the Swedish Federation of Professional Employees (TCO) has implemented TCO certification for electronic and electrical equipment to ensure the environmental performance of products. In 2009, TCO launched the TCO Certified Edge 1.0 certification standard for displays, promoting the addition of at least 65% by weight of post-consumer recycled plastics to products. At the time, TCO Edge was considered the most stringent requirement among green product labels. However, the production of post-consumer recycled plastics in the market has steadily increased, and the quality of post-consumer plastics has reached standards comparable to virgin materials. Therefore, after research and industry surveys with experts, TCO has decided to further raise the TCO Edge standard. In mid-March, TCO released a draft version of TCO Certified Edge Displays 2.0 on its website for public download and feedback. The feedback period has now ended, and TCO will review all suggestions internally before releasing a final revised version. The biggest difference between the TCO Certified Edge Displays 2.0 draft and version 1.0 lies in the content of post-consumer recycled plastics in A1 products.

2015-09-29

European Commission bans phthalates through RoHS directive

The European Commission has adopted a RoHS directive banning phthalates. On June 4th, the European Commission passed a ban on the use of four phthalates in electrical and electronic products. DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DiBP will now be included in Annex II of the EU RoHS 2.0 Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. The limit for the four newly added phthalates is 0.1% by weight, and EU member states must implement this ban by December 31, 2016 at the latest. Except for medical devices and monitoring equipment, the ban will cover all electrical and electronic products after July 22, 2019. For electrical and electronic products already on the market before July 22, 2019, the deadline can be extended to July 21, 2021. For details, please refer to the attachment: RoHS II Amendment_2015_English Version. Source: Chemical Watch (2015-06-05) (Compiled by PIDC) Attachment file: RoHS II Amendment_2015_English Version.pdf

2015-09-29

The European Commission has developed ecolabel standards for hygiene products.

The European Commission has established standards for the Ecolabel of hygiene products. On October 24, 2014, the Commission published in the Official Journal the standards that absorbent hygiene products must meet to apply for the Ecolabel. These standards clearly specify the content of chemical substances restricted by the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulations. The product categories regulated by the Ecolabel standards include diapers, feminine hygiene pads, tampons, and panty liners. Manufacturers must ensure that the content of hazardous substances or mixtures thereof in their products does not exceed the limits specified in the standards, and must also provide a declaration of compliance with the hazardous substance standards. This declaration of compliance must be completed in accordance with the Material Safety Sheets (SDS) specified in the CLP or REACH regulations. Furthermore, the Ecolabel standards prohibit any intentionally added silver nanoparticles and restricted levels of lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and related substances. The final product must not contain substances of very high concern (SVHCs) or hazardous substances listed on the REACH candidate list. Source: Chemical Watch (2014-11-06) (PIDC&nb)

2015-09-29

Korea's K-REACH drafts first list of priority chemical substances for assessment

South Korea's K-REACH Drafts First List of Priority Evaluation Chemicals (PECs) On October 31st, the South Korean Ministry of Environment (MoE) released the first draft list of Priority Evaluation Chemicals (PECs) under K-REACH regulations. This draft list includes 518 chemical substances, and manufacturers must register these substances within three years of the list being finalized. The registration requirements for existing chemical substances under K-REACH differ from those under the European Union's EU REACH. EU REACH requires manufacturers to register all existing chemical substances, while K-REACH only requires registration for chemicals included in the Priority Evaluation Chemicals (PECs) list if their usage exceeds 1 tonne per year. Whether a chemical substance is included in the PECs list is based on its hazardous information and the amount used. PECs information comes from two sources: 1. Hazardous chemical substances originally regulated by the South Korean Toxic Chemicals Control Act (TCCA). 2. Chemical substances that have been identified as hazardous substances internationally.

2015-09-29

Danish mobile app adds SVHC information disclosure requirements for consumers

Denmark's EPA has developed a smartphone app that consumers can download and use to scan product barcodes, displaying the Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) on their screens. According to EPA statistics, in the year since the app's launch, it has been used nearly 70,000 times, and over 1,000 manufacturers have provided SVHC information for their products to the app's database. Coop, Denmark's largest retailer, reported that in the first few months after the app's launch, over 850 consumers requested SVHC disclosure for their products; Bestseller, another well-known clothing brand, reported over 100 consumers requesting transparency during the same period. Under Article 33 of the EU REACH Chemicals Regulation, manufacturers are obligated to respond to consumer requests for SVHC information within 45 days if the SVHC content in a product exceeds 0.1% by weight. However, according to on-site investigations by environmental groups, consumers are not clear about their SVHC rights. Before the app was launched, Coop received only eight consumer requests for SVHC information, while Bestseller received only about one such request per month. Bestseller's Global Environmental Coordinator pointed out that consumers' understanding of this...

2015-09-29

The Chinese standard GB/T 17519 – 2013, "Guidelines for the Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Chemicals," has been published.

The Chinese standard GB/T 17519-2013, "Guidelines for the Preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for Chemicals," has been published and will take effect on January 31, 2014, replacing the previous standard GB/T 17519.2-2003. GB/T 17519-2013 is a supporting implementation standard to GB/T 16483-2008, "Content and Item Order of Safety Data Sheets for Chemicals," specifying the detailed preparation rules and fixed format for each item in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) listed in GB/T 16483-2008. Appendix A provides a complete SDS example, while Appendix B provides key data sources for reference when preparing each part of the SDS (but does not restrict the use of other data sources). Although GB/T 17519 and GB/T 16483 are both recommended standards, China currently lacks other normative documents related to SDS (Safety Data Sheets). Therefore, regulatory authorities use these two national standards as the basis for reviewing whether SDSs comply with regulations. The revised standard GB/T 17519-2013 referenced numerous international and developed regional regulations, standards, and guidelines related to the development of SDSs, especially the fourth edition of the UN GHS and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

2015-09-29

The U.S. CPSC recommends a ban on phthalates in toys

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is preparing to propose a permanent ban on five additional phthalates in children's toys and childcare products. This ban recommendation is based on a risk study conducted by the Chronic Hazard Advisory Panel (CHAP) on 14 phthalates and six alternatives. The CHAP study recommended that the addition of diisobutyl phthalate (DINP), di-n-pentyl phthalate (DnNP), di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP), and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) in children's toys and childcare products be permanently limited to less than 0.1%. Currently, there are no restrictions on the addition of these chemicals in the U.S. market. However, the toxicological profiles of these chemicals are very similar to those of other anti-androgen phthalates, therefore exposure...

2015-09-29

Japan publishes "Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment of Priority Chemical Substances under the Chemicals Approval Law".

Japan Publishes Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment of Priority Assessment Chemical Substances under the Chemical Substance Control Law On March 31, 2014, the Japan Institute for Product Evaluation Technology (NITE), an independent administrative incorporation, published excerpts from its independently developed technical guidelines for Priority Assessment Chemical Substances (PACs) under the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL). Other sections currently being drafted are scheduled for future publication. The guidelines document is divided into twelve parts, as follows: – Introduction – Terminology Explanation – &

2015-09-29

South Korea launches pilot program for joint registration of 7 substances under KREACH

Korea's REACH Launches Pilot Program for Joint Registration of 7 Substances Korea's REACH will launch a pilot program for joint registration of substances to test the operation of various registration tools and procedures. This program is jointly supervised and implemented by the Korea Chemicals Management Association (KCMA) and the Korea National Clean Productivity Center (KNCPC). The goal of this pilot program is to complete the preparation of joint registration documents for the following seven substances that are about to be included in the first wave of the existing priority registration list by April 2015. These substances include: – m-tolylidene diisocyanate; CAS No. 26471-62-5; – dibenzoyl peroxide; CAS No. 94-36-0; – &

2015-09-29

California Releases Initial List of Priority Products to Enhance Consumer Product Safety Regulations

California's Enhanced Consumer Product Safety Regulations (SCP) have released an initial list of priority products containing candidate chemicals. These include: 1. Sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) containing unreacted diisocyanates; 2. Foamed mattresses and sleep products for children containing tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate or TDCPP; 3. Paint and varnish removers and surface cleaners containing methylene chloride. The priority products are...

2015-09-29

South Korea updates its list of toxic substances and GHS classification list

South Korea Updates Toxic Chemical Substances List and GHS Classification List The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) announced on March 11, 2014, revisions to two chemical substances listed in the Toxic Chemical Substances List (TCSL) of the Chemical Safety Management Law (CSML) in accordance with NIER Announcement No. 2014-5. The CSML stipulates that companies must take appropriate action to comply with the updated regulations one month after the announcement. The classification and labeling information for the two chemical substances updated in this announcement will also be updated simultaneously in the classification list of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Compared to the aforementioned TCSL list update, this update to the GHS list, based on NIER Announcement No. 2014-6, took effect immediately upon announcement. The table below summarizes the key points of the updates to the TSML and GHS lists: KE

2015-09-29

Japan Announces Notification Requirements for Category II Chemical Substances under the Chemical Approval Law

Japan Announces Notification Requirements for Class II Chemical Substances under the Chemical Substance Control Law. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has published a document outlining the notification requirements for the Class II regulated chemical substances under the Chemical Substance Control Law (CSCL). The Class II list currently includes 23 chemical substances that may cause harm to human health and the environment. Companies manufacturing or importing these substances weighing more than 1 kilogram must complete the notification process. The table below summarizes the required documentation and timeline for company notification. Furthermore, companies manufacturing or importing Class II regulated chemical substances must submit an annual report between April 1st and the end of June each year. Category | Notifier | Notification Content | Timeline | Category II Regulatory Chemical Substances (the chemical substance itself) | Companies planning to manufacture/import | Expected weight | One month before manufacturing/import | Companies planning to update manufacturing/import quantities | Updated notification weight | Before exceeding the notification quantity | Companies manufacturing/importing | Previous year's manufacturing/import weight | April 1 to the end of June each year | Products containing Category II Regulatory Chemical Substances | Companies planning to import | Expected quantity | One month before manufacturing/import | Companies planning to update import quantities | Update

2015-09-29

Bluesign® releases new standard

Bluesign® Releases New Standards. Bluesign Technologies AG, headquartered in Switzerland, launched its blue textile eco-certification mark on October 17, 2000, in Hanover, Germany. This mark, established by EU academic, industrial, environmental, and consumer organizations, signifies that products meet environmental, health, and safety requirements. Bluesign® recently released new standards, revising and supplementing existing ones. Addressing current needs, the new standards cover the entire manufacturing process, from spinning to complete textile products, including accessories and leather manufacturing. Furthermore, chemical assessment incorporates Bluesign's unique Input Stream Management method, providing a more in-depth evaluation approach for chemical risk management. The new Bluesign standards are the result of collaboration with chemical suppliers, manufacturers, brand owners, and other partners, further strengthening the Bluesign system and providing industrial solutions for responsible production. Source: Green Trade Information Network (2014-04-08)

2015-09-29

ASEAN Cosmetics Directive: Bans 5 Types of Parabens

ASEAN Cosmetics Directive Bans Five Parabens The Association of Southeast Asia (ASEAN) Cosmetics Committee (ACC) recently decided to ban the use of the following five parabens as preservatives in cosmetics: – Isopropylparaben; – Isobutylparaben; –

2015-09-29

European Commission publishes guidance on mixture assessment

European Commission Releases Guidelines for the Assessment of Mixtures The European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC) recently released a comprehensive guide on methodologies for assessing the toxic effects of mixtures, providing manufacturers with more complete information on mixture testing. In addition to comprehensively summarizing the toxic effects methodologies of many mixtures recognized by the EU, this report also contains an incisive summary of the harmful substances content of the EU's hazardous substances-related regulations and directives, providing manufacturers with information on hazardous substances that can integrate all regulations and directives. Require. The regulations and directives summarized in the guide are as follows: – Plant protection products regulations (Reg 1107/2009); – Public-private partnership regulations - active ingredient requirements (PPP-

2015-09-29

Regulating Methane Emissions from Oil and Dairy Industries US Legislative Timeline for Emission Controls

The US has outlined a legislative timeline for regulating methane emissions from oil and dairy industries. On March 28, 2014, the Obama administration proposed a new strategy to reduce methane emissions, focusing on landfills, coal mines, dairy farming, and oil and gas systems, as part of its climate action plan announced the previous June. Methane is a major component of natural gas and a greenhouse gas with a warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide, accounting for nearly 9% of total man-made greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. While methane-producing activities in the US have increased since 1990, methane pollution has decreased by 11%. Reducing methane emissions and pollution is a crucial greenhouse gas mitigation measure; without action to reduce methane emissions, it is projected that by 2030, methane pollution will be equivalent to 620 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution. The Obama administration's new strategy pledges to reduce methane emissions, demonstrating the US government's efforts to improve greenhouse gas emission standards, which the White House describes as "cost-effective voluntary action; based on common-sense criteria." In the summer of 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will propose new standards to reduce methane emissions from new landfills and solicit public opinion on whether to adopt the new standards for existing landfills simultaneously. In April 2014, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will initiate legislative proceedings to regulate the capture, sale, or treatment of methane from waste rock on federally leased land.

2015-09-29

The European Commission extends the application period of environmental labels for five categories of products including shoes and computers

2016-10-06

The EU's Official Journal published European Commission (EC) Resolution 2015/2056, which extended the application period of environmental labels for certain types of products until the end of 2016. In other words, televisions, shoes and furniture that meet relevant environmental standards can continue to benefit from environmental labels in the next year. The reason for extending the application period is to allow EU consumers to distinguish environmentally friendly products. Taiwanese companies with related products can participate in the environmental labeling program to promote a positive image of their products to EU consumers. Environmental labeling is a voluntary scheme that was implemented in 1992 and revised in 2010. The scheme sets out some basic rules for the awarding of environmental seals. Products with less impact on the environment (i.e. environmentally friendly products) can be awarded an environmental label. Regulation 66/2010 sets out the framework for an environmental labeling scheme and does not aim to differentiate between EU-made and foreign-made products. This framework regulation sets environmental standards applicable to different product categories based on the energy usage during the product life cycle. Such products must meet specific environmental standards in order to be awarded an environmental label. European Commission resolutions contain environmental guidelines for each product category. The new Resolution No. 2015/2056 extends the validity period of environmental protection labels for five product categories until December 31, 2016. The five product categories are as follows: Televisions – Decision 2009/300/EC: The product category “television” includes electronic devices powered by mains power

The US CPSC excludes testing requirements for untreated wood in toys.

2016-10-06

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced its final decision regarding the Toy Safety Directive, removing the requirement for heavy metal testing reports on unprocessed or unpainted wood in toys. This amendment is based on the premise that unprocessed or unpainted tree trunks are unlikely to contain heavy metals exceeding the limits set in the Toy Safety Directive's Consumer Safety Specification ASTM F963-11. Therefore, the decision removes the requirement for mandatory third-party certified testing reports on heavy metal content in unprocessed or unpainted wood toys. The aforementioned Consumer Safety Specification stipulates that toys that can be sucked, licked, or ingested must meet eight heavy metal solubility limits for their surface coatings and accessible substrates. Manufacturers are required to obtain conformity certificates from third-party certified bodies. The permissible solubility limits for heavy metals in the Toy Safety Directive's Consumer Safety Specification are as follows: 1. Antimony

Denmark targets SMEs (Electronic and Electrical Product Manufacturers) to promote chemical substances in compliance with regulations.

2015-09-29

Denmark is urging SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to comply with EU regulations on chemical substances in their electrical and electronic products. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently strengthened its efforts to promote compliance with EU regulations on chemical substances in electrical and electronic products (EEPS) for small and medium-sized enterprises. This campaign, "Toxic chemicals in electronics is also your responsibility," is part of the Danish government's plan to prevent children, adolescents, and pregnant women from being exposed to harmful substances. The campaign aims to raise awareness among manufacturers about regulations governing chemical substances in EEPS, prioritizing products that children may come into contact with, such as televisions, tablets, small kitchen appliances, and mobile phones. While children use many EEPS products like adults, research shows that children are more vulnerable to harmful chemicals than adults. Therefore, every manufacturer in the EEPS supply chain should understand the hazardous substances regulations their products must comply with. A 2014 survey conducted by the Danish EPA of 57 companies in the EEPS industry revealed that over 90% of the respondents were small retailers, and nearly half of them had never heard of such regulations.

ZDHC Releases Guidelines for Chemical Substance Management in the Textile Industry

2015-09-29

ZDHC Releases Guidelines for Chemicals Management in the Textile Industry. The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) recently released a new Chemical Management System (CMS) guide to assist textile mills, brand owners, retailers, and supply chains in establishing internal CMSs. The guide outlines the methods, structures, and documentation needed to support and support these internal systems in achieving ZDHC's goals. Cheryl Kreindler, ZDHC's Program Manager, stated that a robust chemical management system not only ensures employee safety and reduces negative environmental impacts on the community and the planet, but also represents a milestone in demonstrating a company's continued progress towards a zero-hazardous-discharge philosophy. ZDHC's chemical management system provides companies with comprehensive and practical processes for hazardous substances management, and can be easily implemented by companies throughout the supply chain. The guide is divided into five chapters and references the Plan, Do, Check, and Act cycle framework of ISO management systems. The management planning (Plan) phase includes the company's commitment to implementing the CMS, evaluation, and prioritization; the execution (Do) phase involves the implementation of chemical substance management; the check (Check) phase mainly focuses on monitoring after system implementation; and the audit (Act) phase...

Sweden's TCO Edge certification aims to increase the recycled plastic content in displays.

2015-09-29

European Commission bans phthalates through RoHS directive

2015-09-29

The European Commission has developed ecolabel standards for hygiene products.

2015-09-29

Korea's K-REACH drafts first list of priority chemical substances for assessment

2015-09-29

Danish mobile app adds SVHC information disclosure requirements for consumers

2015-09-29

The Chinese standard GB/T 17519 – 2013, "Guidelines for the Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Chemicals," has been published.

2015-09-29

The U.S. CPSC recommends a ban on phthalates in toys

2015-09-29

Japan publishes "Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment of Priority Chemical Substances under the Chemicals Approval Law".

2015-09-29

South Korea launches pilot program for joint registration of 7 substances under KREACH

2015-09-29

California Releases Initial List of Priority Products to Enhance Consumer Product Safety Regulations

2015-09-29

South Korea updates its list of toxic substances and GHS classification list

2015-09-29

Japan Announces Notification Requirements for Category II Chemical Substances under the Chemical Approval Law

2015-09-29

Bluesign® releases new standard

2015-09-29

ASEAN Cosmetics Directive: Bans 5 Types of Parabens

2015-09-29

European Commission publishes guidance on mixture assessment

2015-09-29

Regulating Methane Emissions from Oil and Dairy Industries US Legislative Timeline for Emission Controls

2015-09-29

The US has outlined a legislative timeline for regulating methane emissions from oil and dairy industries. On March 28, 2014, the Obama administration proposed a new strategy to reduce methane emissions, focusing on landfills, coal mines, dairy farming, and oil and gas systems, as part of its climate action plan announced the previous June. Methane is a major component of natural gas and a greenhouse gas with a warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide, accounting for nearly 9% of total man-made greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. While methane-producing activities in the US have increased since 1990, methane pollution has decreased by 11%. Reducing methane emissions and pollution is a crucial greenhouse gas mitigation measure; without action to reduce methane emissions, it is projected that by 2030, methane pollution will be equivalent to 620 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution. The Obama administration's new strategy pledges to reduce methane emissions, demonstrating the US government's efforts to improve greenhouse gas emission standards, which the White House describes as "cost-effective voluntary action; based on common-sense criteria." In the summer of 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will propose new standards to reduce methane emissions from new landfills and solicit public opinion on whether to adopt the new standards for existing landfills simultaneously. In April 2014, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will initiate legislative proceedings to regulate the capture, sale, or treatment of methane from waste rock on federally leased land.