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A random inspection in Sweden found harmful substances in plastic products.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) recently conducted an inspection of commercially available plastic products for hazardous substances, finding that at least 10% of the sampled products contained harmful chemicals. KEMI tested 160 plastic products from 52 companies for the following hazardous substances: These products included household items such as bathroom supplies, garden tools, work gloves, bags/purses, and sporting goods, mostly made of soft plastics. The results showed that almost all PVC plastic products contained the aforementioned hazardous substances. KEMI released the following results: After KEMI notified the 52 manufacturers of the test results, some companies voluntarily removed products exceeding the limits from shelves. KEMI also took action, issuing sales bans on two products and filing complaints against 20 companies. KEMI auditor Marcus Hagberg pointed out that although the levels of hazardous substances in most products were below legal limits, the wide reach and sales volume of these plastic products mean that the cumulative impact of hazardous substances on human health and environmental safety is relatively alarming. Therefore, in publishing these findings, KEMI reiterated that businesses must strictly control and require upstream suppliers to provide accurate data to minimize the levels of harmful substances in final consumer products, jointly safeguarding consumer health and environmental safety. Source: Chemical Watch

2016-10-06

Can the U.S. "Right to Repair" Act for Electronic Products Reduce Electronic Waste?

According to a research report by Waste Dive, a US e-waste recycling organization, establishing "Right to Repair" laws for electronic products, requiring manufacturers to provide product repair manuals and spare parts, would be the biggest driver of reducing e-waste generation. Since 2014, five US states – South Dakota, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Nebraska – have proposed similar "Right to Repair" laws, but these bills have all failed. Furthermore, e-waste brands including Apple, Cisco, and Xerox actively lobbied against these bills during the proposal stage. Gay Gordon-Byrne, general manager of the Repair Association, pointed out in the report that without market competition from repair shops, manufacturers would set repair prices higher than buying new devices to ensure profitability. Globally, over 20 million tons of e-waste are produced annually, with the US alone producing approximately 3.4 million tons. The US EPA estimates that e-waste growth is 2-3 times that of other regulated waste. The Repair Association has long been committed to advocating and promoting the right to repair electronic products, aiming not only to reduce electronic waste generation but also to secure employment rights for electronic product repair technicians. Electronic product repair company iFixit estimates that if the right to repair legislation is formally implemented, it will not only effectively reduce the amount of electronic waste but also...

2016-10-06

Chinese consumers are willing to pay for "green electricity".

Recently, the Renewable Energy Committee of the China Circular Economy Association (CREIA) commissioned Ipsos to survey 3,000 consumers in ten major Chinese cities. The survey revealed an unprecedentedly strong desire among Chinese consumers to purchase "green electricity," referring to power generated from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass. China's renewable energy sector has developed rapidly in recent years, with its cumulative installed capacity of wind and solar photovoltaic power ranking first in the world. However, thermal power remains the dominant force in China's electricity structure, accounting for 74% of the country's total electricity generation in 2015, the majority of which is coal-fired. The resulting air pollution and carbon emissions have become a major concern for Chinese society. The survey results show that the Chinese public is highly concerned about air pollution, believes that "green electricity" helps reduce pollution, and is willing to pay higher electricity bills for it. However, whether consumers' willingness can change China's electricity landscape remains unclear. Across all cities, respondents expressed a high level of concern about environmental pollution. Over 40% of respondents said they were "very concerned" about the current environmental situation in China. Air pollution received the highest level of attention, far exceeding the concern about climate change. Public attitudes toward "green electricity" appear to be linked to their deep-seated aversion to air pollution. Over 90% of respondents believe that green electricity can reduce air pollution to some extent. The survey shows that respondents are concerned about purchasing "green electricity."

2016-10-06

Maine, USA, bans button batteries containing PBDE and mercury

Maine Bans Button Batteries Containing PBDE and Mercury. The Governor of Maine has signed two bills restricting the use of deca-PBDE (a flame retardant) and mercury in button batteries. Challenge: Effective January 1, 2010, no one may manufacture, sell, supply for sale, distribute, or use television or computer products in Maine with a plastic casing containing more than 0.1% deca-PBDE. Exemptions: 1. Used products; 2. Products where PBDE was originally present in recycled materials; or 3. Products manufactured before January 1, 2006, and replacement parts containing penta-bromodiphenyl ether or octa-bromodiphenyl ether. The requirements for mercury-containing button batteries are now more stringent: From June 30, 2011, no one may sell, supply, distribute, or provide for promotional purposes the following mercury-containing button batteries, or products containing any of the following mercury-containing button batteries: 1. Zinc-air button batteries; 2. Alkali-manganese button batteries; or 3. Silver oxide button batteries with the markings SR357, SR364, SR371, SR377, or SR395. Furthermore, after January 1, 2015, no one may sell, offer for sale, or provide for promotional purposes mercury-containing silver oxide button batteries, or any products using such batteries. - Reference source: Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) 2009-06-10

2009-11-07

GMP Trends and Challenges in Asia

Background: In recent years, Asia's pharmaceutical supply market has grown rapidly, leading to a concentration of global production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), semi-finished products, and raw materials in Asia. According to an article published by in-pharmatechnologist.com in December 2007, 80% of the APIs used in the production of finished drugs in the US and EU come from Asia, with China and India accounting for a significant share. Consequently, US and EU law enforcement and regulatory authorities have begun to focus on the quality of imported drugs and have taken actions and plans to ensure user safety. The Challenges Facing Asia: The GMP standards set by the US and EU have become the code of conduct that Asian suppliers and exporters must follow, while simultaneously complying with their own national GMP regulations. This immense pressure to meet the standards of one or more jurisdictions will be a major challenge for Asian suppliers in the past and for years to come. Three Most Influential Regulatory Agencies and Their Standards: The European Medicines Agency (EMEA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)—three of the world's most influential pharmaceutical regulatory agencies—each employ different methods to ensure the quality of domestically produced and imported drugs. The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) employs a risk-based approach, stipulating that pre-processed materials manufactured according to EU GMP standards bear primary responsibility for ensuring qualified quality for pharmaceutical manufacturers (or marketing authorization holders [MAH]). Currently, the EMEA operates in Europe...

2009-02-12

Biocompatibility testing of medical materials – cytotoxicity (ISO 10993-5)

Biocompatibility Testing of Medical Materials – Cytotoxicity (ISO 10993-5) Biocompatibility refers to the compatibility between medical materials and the patient's tissues and physiological systems. The success and safe use of medical materials in clinical practice are primarily due to their good biocompatibility. However, some medical materials release toxic substances during use, leading to incompatibility with patients. For the purpose of monitoring biocompatibility, the use of medical materials and their extracts is typically simulated under worst-case conditions to ensure safety under normal use conditions. ISO 10993, in parts 1 to 20, specifies a series of mandatory standards for evaluating the biocompatibility of medical materials. Part 5 of this standard focuses on the cytotoxicity of extracts of medical materials against established cell lines (studies conducted in vitro). In vitro studies are generally less expensive and easier to conduct in regions where animal testing is discouraged. Cell culture experiments are used in biocompatibility studies of medical materials. There are generally three methods for studying the cytotoxicity of medical materials. The first method is the direct contact method, suitable for low-density materials, such as contact lenses. The test material is placed directly on the cell line and then heated at an appropriate temperature. During heating, some soluble chemicals diffuse into the culture medium and come into direct contact with the cells. If the cell lines surrounding the material show abnormalities, degeneration, or decomposition, the material can be considered cytotoxic.

2008-08-17

Quarantine measures for wood packaging materials formulated by various countries

Countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia attach great importance to the import quarantine of wood packaging materials. Before the formulation of ISPM 15, there were requirements for quarantine or processing of importing countries; after the incident of Star Beetle, the United States Animal and Plant Quarantine Unit re-examined the regulations on wood packaging materials quarantine policy, adopt more stringent quarantine measures, and at the same time strengthen the inspection and monitoring of important wood pests such as various longhorned beetles and small beetles at various import ports in the United States; in addition, a special research group has been established to be responsible for risk analysis and formulation of long-lived longhorned longhorned beetles. Extermination plan. After the announcement of ISPM 15, many countries have used this guideline as a reference, and based on the actual situation of each country, have formulated more stringent quarantine measures for wood packaging materials than in the past. For example, Canada has required that since June 1, 2002 Wooden packaging materials exported to this country from various countries (except the United States) must be processed in accordance with ISPM 15 standards or in a manner approved by the Canadian quarantine agency before they can be imported. Applicable products include wooden pallets and pallets, etc. If you wish to export Before going to Canada, it must be handled under the supervision of professional quarantine personnel in any of the following ways: 1. Heat treatment: dry heat treatment until the center temperature of the packaging material reaches 56°C for more than 30 minutes; 2. Fumigation with methyl bromide; or 3. Other methods approved by the Canadian quarantine unit, and the processed wooden packaging materials can be stamped and stamped before they can be exported to Canada; and then, China also based on experts’ regulations on the wooden packaging of EU goods. Pest risk analysis results indicate that the quarantine risk of wood packaging for EU goods is very high

2006-11-12

Conclusion

Wooden packaging materials made from unprocessed logs are usually of poor quality and have a high probability of carrying harmful organisms. Wooden packaging materials are often reused to carry different goods and transported to different regions, and the epidemics caused by them are also more complex. Once pests are introduced into a new area, due to the lack of effective control by natural enemies and the ability to escape the suppression of dominant species, it is easy to establish new populations, often causing more serious economic losses and ecological disasters than in their place of origin. Various examples show that wooden packaging materials and imported logs have become the main channels for the long-distance spread of harmful organisms (Qu, 1999). The invasion of long-distance beetles into the United States is the most famous case in recent years; in fact, pine wilt disease caused by pine wood nematode has been in the United States since 1983. After the discovery in Shimen Township, Taipei County, in less than 20 years, the disease has spread to almost all parts of Taiwan. Reports of the disease have been reported along the Zhongheng and Nanheng Highways. Even Kinmen and Matsu cannot escape the attack of the disease; the affected tree species have never been affected. Ryukyu pine and black pine, as well as Taiwanese two-leaf pine and slash pine, have plunged Taiwan's pine trees into unprecedented catastrophe; it is believed that pine wood threads invaded Taiwan through wooden packaging materials and beetles. The painful lessons of history are still there. Our country must abide by relevant international norms and strictly implement quarantine measures for imported and exported goods. Domestically, we can avoid the harmful organisms carried by imported goods that may cause irreparable disasters to Taiwan. Externally, we can reduce the number of export goods that are detected. It can also prevent domestic problems from turning into international problems.

2006-11-01

The impact of ISPM 15 on Taiwan and its response strategies

In international trade, wood is widely used as packaging material. At present, it cannot be completely replaced by other packaging materials. After my country joins the WTO, under diversified free trade, it is expected that the number of wooden packaging materials used in imported and exported goods will continue to increase. In order to respond to the spread of quarantine pests as wood packaging materials spread internationally, our country should actively collect relevant information from various channels. In addition to cooperating with the ISPM 15 guidelines to formulate and implement import and export quarantine measures that comply with international standards, we should also conduct Relevant risk assessments to thoroughly understand the impact of suspected quarantine pests; for example, if the longhorn beetle is introduced into China, it may not only seriously harm the forests and economic plants in Taiwan's vast area, but also the environment and ecology of the entire country. Analyze the disasters caused by our country's biodiversity, the increase in production costs, and the social losses that may cause unemployment or work stoppages, etc. We should carefully conduct risk assessments to face them. Various problems caused by quarantine pests. APHIS (2003) has analyzed the regulatory impact of implementing ISPM15 regulations, which is valuable for our country's reference. In addition to strictly enforcing quarantine measures, we should strengthen detection and monitoring of channels through which wood pests of quarantine importance may invade, and improve relevant network systems. For species that are difficult to identify, relevant rapid diagnostic and identification methods should be developed, and frontline quarantine and quarantine personnel should be trained to identify these harmful organisms.

2006-11-01

News

>Articles

A random inspection in Sweden found harmful substances in plastic products.

Can the U.S. "Right to Repair" Act for Electronic Products Reduce Electronic Waste?

Chinese consumers are willing to pay for "green electricity".

Maine, USA, bans button batteries containing PBDE and mercury

GMP Trends and Challenges in Asia

Biocompatibility testing of medical materials – cytotoxicity (ISO 10993-5)

Quarantine measures for wood packaging materials formulated by various countries

Conclusion

The impact of ISPM 15 on Taiwan and its response strategies

News

>Articles

A random inspection in Sweden found harmful substances in plastic products.

Can the U.S. "Right to Repair" Act for Electronic Products Reduce Electronic Waste?

Chinese consumers are willing to pay for "green electricity".

Maine, USA, bans button batteries containing PBDE and mercury

GMP Trends and Challenges in Asia

Biocompatibility testing of medical materials – cytotoxicity (ISO 10993-5)

Quarantine measures for wood packaging materials formulated by various countries

Conclusion

The impact of ISPM 15 on Taiwan and its response strategies