The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on January 15, 2018, 7 new substances of very high concern (SVHC). There are currently a total of 181 substances of very high concern (SVHC) in the Candidate List for authorization. At the same time, ECHA also updated the reasons for the inclusion of bisphenol A into SVHC and added a new classification basis for endocrine disrupting substances (environmental). The Chinese and English names, CAS No., reasons for inclusion in SVHC and examples of uses of the 7 new substances are summarized in the attachment. For the overall SVHC list, please refer to the ECHA official website. EU REACH will include chemical substances that may cause serious impact to the human body or the environment on the candidate list of substances of high concern for authorization, and may further designate them as authorized substances. Once a substance becomes an authorized substance, companies must obtain authorization for use before they can continue to use it after a specific period. Domestic manufacturers should take corresponding measures, evaluate product ingredients, and activate safety alternative assessment and supply chain communication mechanisms. For substances of high concern, businesses should pay special attention to REACH’s finished product notification and supply chain communication regulations: [Applicable conditions for notification regulations] Those who meet the following four descriptions at the same time; 1. The substance is a substance of high concern that may be included in the authorization (Article 57) ; and 2. The annual total amount of substances of high concern in the finished products of an individual manufacturer or importer exceeds 1 ton; and 3. The concentration of substances of high concern in the finished products exceeds 0

The European Commission recently asked the Chemical Agency (ECHA) to prepare a restriction document for Annex XV of REACH, which is expected to restrict intentionally added plastic particles in all consumer products and products for professional use. This requirement is a major focus of the EU's plastics policy, which hopes to reduce the use of plastic particles (plastics with a diameter of less than 5mm) through legislation. Plastic policy is one of the five priorities of the EU action plan to promote circular economy. The focus is to promote the goal of all plastic packaging materials in the EU single market to be recyclable by 2030 and to reduce the use of single-use plastics. ECHA will collect opinions from stakeholders in the first quarter of 2018 to conduct a socio-economic assessment study, and is expected to submit a microplastic restriction document within one year. Microplastic pollution has become a major problem. Although some are intentionally added to products, most are released unintentionally. It is estimated that approximately 3 million tons of microplastics are released into the environment in the EU every year. In its plastic policy, the European Commission has set out measures to combat microplastics, including strengthening supervision and tracking of marine plastic pollution. The European Commission also plans to target specific industries with labeling standards and minimum microplastic release requirements, hoping to comprehensively reduce microplastics entering the environment. These industries include the tire industry, textile industry and painting industry. Recent research shows that there are traces of microplastics in the air, food and even drinking water. The possible negative impact of these microplastics on the human body is still unknown, so the European Commission

2015年12月2日，歐盟執委會(European Commission)提出「歐盟循環經濟行動計劃」(Closing the loop – An EU action plan for the Circular Economy) ，將線性經濟過渡至循環經濟之轉型列為優先項目，循環經濟透過產品與材料資源循環(recycle)及再利用(re-use)，並賦於產品或材料新的用途。歐盟亦陸續公布循環經濟行動計畫之執行報告，設立循環經濟資金補助評估來鼓勵投資與創新。在廢棄物再利用上公布相關指引，並針對電子電機設備中的危害性化學品管理提出RoHS 修法草案與衝擊分析報告。可見歐盟將排除危害性化學品於循環經濟外列為當務之急。 為了支持歐盟循環經濟政策，REACH的主管機關-ECHA執行長表示需要在有價材料、回收材料以及其中需要淘汰的危害物質中找到管理之平衡點，並決定是否透過新的法規來特別管理回收物質，目前現有法規工具的作法便是優先限制危害性化學品進入原物料循環中，歐洲環境局 (The European Environmental Bureau, EEB) 建議現行法規應有效並一致地優先鼓

於2016年6月22日生效的美國毒性物質管理法 (TSCA) 新法修正案內容中，闡明透過三階段程序：優先化 (prioritization)、風險評估 (risk evaluation) 及風險管理 (risk management)，以確保既有化學物質安全性，亦保障評估或管理是在實務可行的範圍下進行。 為了支持歐盟循環經濟政策，REACH的主管機關-ECHA執行長表示需要在有價材料、回收材料以及其中需要淘汰的危害物質中找到管理之平衡點，並決定是否透過新的法規來特別管理回收物質，目前現有法規工具的作法便是優先限制危害性化學品進入原物料循環中，歐洲環境局（The European Environmental Bureau, EEB）建議現行法規應有效並一致地優先鼓勵安全替代(substitution)，其中包括： ˙ 優先化：根據美國環保署 (EPA) 於今 (2017) 年6月22日簽署、7月20日公布的最終規則 (final rule) 已於9月18日生效，建立以風險為基準的篩選程序，來指定化學物質進行風險評估的優先順序，考量的要素包括化學物質的潛在危害及暴露 (包括持久性、生物累積