〈各國環保法規〉彙整頁面 - Page 11 of 17

Frequently Asked Questions about China's "General Rules for the Environmentally Friendly Use Period of Electronic Information Products"

2010-01-06

Frequently Asked Questions about the General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period of Electronic Information Products in China To help manufacturers of electronic information products determine the environmentally friendly use period of their products, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently issued the General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period of Electronic Information Products. Experts have provided answers to common questions regarding these rules as follows: I. Question: Does the General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period serve as a basis for determining the accuracy of an enterprise's labeling of the environmentally friendly use period? Answer: The purpose of the General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period is to help enterprises determine the environmentally friendly use period of their products and further improve the labeling of pollution control for electronic information products. The General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period is an industry-guided technical document and does not itself serve as a basis for determining the accuracy of an enterprise's labeling of the environmentally friendly use period. However, if the environmentally friendly use period determined and labeled on the corresponding product according to the General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period or other methods exceeds the actual environmentally friendly use period of the product, the producer or importer will bear corresponding legal responsibility. II. Question: Does the General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period apply to products that do not contain toxic or hazardous substances or elements? A: The "General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period" apply to electronic information products whose content of toxic and hazardous substances or elements exceeds the limits specified in SJ/T 11363-2006, which falls within the scope of the "Administrative Measures for Pollution Control of Electronic Information Products." Products that do not contain toxic and hazardous substances or elements do not require a defined environmentally friendly use period; therefore, the "General Rules for Environmentally Friendly Use Period" do not apply.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the use of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the sale of air conditioners and refrigeration equipment containing HCFC-22, HCFC-142, or a mixture of both, effective January 1, 2010. This ban applies to finished products already filled with refrigerant (e.g., window air conditioners) and equipment such as split-type air conditioners or supermarket freezers filled with HCFCs; whether the equipment is imported into the U.S., intended for export, or manufactured in the U.S. for domestic use, it is subject to regulation. This ban primarily responds to the international Montreal Protocol's efforts to ban ozone-depleting substances like HCFCs, with a global ban expected by 2030. – Source: Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) 2010-01-08 – Translated by Plastics Industry Technology Development Centre – For reference only, please refer to the original text.

2010-03-12

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends limiting the use of four major categories of potentially hazardous chemicals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended restrictions on four categories of potentially hazardous chemicals. The EPA recently announced four categories of chemicals that may pose health and environmental risks and has taken a series of actions that could ultimately restrict the import of these chemicals. The EPA is exercising its regulatory powers under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSA). While the EPA considers the TSA to be outdated and in need of reform, it will continue to utilize the legislation to achieve its goal of protecting human health and the environment. The EPA stated that it will work to reform the TSA to comprehensively assess the safety of chemicals on the market and take effective action to reduce the risks posed by chemicals that do not meet safety standards. A summary of the EPA's recent actions is as follows. Phthalates: The Environmental Protection Department plans to publish proposed regulations this fall to add the following phthalates to the list of chemicals under section 5(b)(4) of the Toxic Substances Control Act: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), butyl phthalate benzyl phthalate (BBP), dipentyl phthalate (DnPP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dioctyl phthalate (DnOP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), and phthalates...

2010-03-12

Taiwan's food industry safe and green supply chain

In recent years, the concept of green supply chains has been deeply rooted in various industries, especially in electronics-related products. Its implementation has yielded significant results and its impact continues to expand. Therefore, it is generally believed that compliance with green directives is only necessary for the electronics industry. But did you know that the food industry, which is closely related to our daily lives, has also begun to implement green supply chains? What is a food supply chain? It refers to the sequence of stages and operations from primary production to consumption, including the production, processing, distribution, storage, and handling of food and its ingredients, as well as the production of materials expected to come into contact with food or raw materials—that is, packaging materials. The Industrial Development Bureau has further clarified that starting this year, the scope of food supply chain certification will be expanded to include upstream raw materials and downstream packaging materials, thus broadening the scope of food verification. Green Food and Green Supply Chain: Green food does not refer to food that is "green in color," but specifically refers to safe, high-quality, and nutritious food that is free from pollution. Natural resources and the ecological environment are fundamental conditions for food production. Since things related to life, resources, and the environment are usually labeled "green," to highlight that this type of food comes from a good ecological environment and can bring people vigorous vitality, it is named "green food." Currently, food contamination due to environmental pollution poses a significant threat to human health, drawing worldwide attention. To protect the ecological environment and improve food hygiene and quality, the Ministry of Agriculture has prioritized the development of "green food" as a key product, strictly defining three essential standards: ① the raw material production area must have a favorable ecological environment; ② the growth process of the raw crop and the conditions of water, fertilizer, and soil must be suitable.

2010-03-12

EU-ETS Under Cyber Attack; EU Plans to Revise Rules

The European Union's Executive Board announced today that a phishing attack targeting the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) has prompted the EU to revise its cybersecurity guidelines. German officials issued a statement on February 3rd, stating that cyber fraudsters targeted the international carbon trading market, stealing companies' carbon emission permits and selling them on the black market. The Executive Board stated that some fraudulent transactions had already begun, using forged emails to send to users, requesting them to log in to fake registration websites to steal user codes and passwords. The Executive Board said that six German companies, as well as companies in New Zealand and Australia, have been affected. – Source: Reuters, 2010-02-25 – For reference only, please refer to the original text.

2010-03-12

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has released exemptions for lead content in electronic components.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released a formal exemption clause for lead content in electronic components on January 12, 2010 (http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr10/electronic.pdf). This exemption is based on the fact that the component is essential to the operation of the electronic product, and current technology cannot meet the required lead content limits.

2010-03-12

The European Union has revised its environmental label to expand its scope and increase transparency

The European Union revised its Ecolabelling scheme to expand its scope and increase transparency. On October 26, 2009, the Council of Ministers of the European Union adopted new regulations revising the Ecolabelling scheme, which currently covers textiles, footwear, and electrical appliances, and expanding its scope to other products. The Ecolabelling scheme, which began in 1992 and was amended in 2000, aimed to establish a system for awarding Ecolabels to products that help reduce environmental damage. The EU's revised regulations aimed to improve the effectiveness of the Ecolabelling scheme and expand its market impact. This was achieved by increasing the categories of eligible products, providing consumers with more Ecolabeled goods and services, and establishing a fast-track procedure for developing and assessing Ecolabelling criteria. Furthermore, the revised regulations could reduce the scheme's annual fees, simplify the assessment process, and focus on products with the greatest environmental impact. When developing Ecolabelling criteria, the European Commission considers not only environmental performance (climate impact, energy and resource consumption) but also the product's environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle and regulations on reducing animal testing. Other revisions include linking the Ecolabel scheme to other sustainable production and consumption actions, such as integrating Ecolabel awarding criteria into the Ecodesign program (listed in Ecodesign Directive 2005/32/EC), and/or using the criteria as guidelines for setting future standards, compelling businesses to comply with Ecolabel standards. Another objective of the revised regulations is to cultivate consumer awareness.

2010-01-06

British MPs have proposed revising speed limits to reduce emissions.

British MPs propose revising speed limits to reduce emissions. Labour MP Colin Challen led a team to recommend to the UK government that the national speed limit be set at 55 miles per hour (approximately 88 kilometers per hour) to reduce the carbon footprint of the UK transport sector. MP Challen also suggested that funds currently being used to stimulate economic recovery should be redirected to investments in green governance. According to research by the Independent Committee on Climate Change, a speed limit of 55 miles per hour would reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 1,400,000 tons annually. Currently, the transport sector accounts for about a quarter of the UK's total carbon emissions. – Source: Energy Saving Trust website, 2009-12-03 – Translated by Plastics Industry Technology Development Center. For reference only, please refer to the original text.

2010-01-06

Swedish fast food companies release carbon footprint data for their products

Swedish fast-food chain Max Burger has published its carbon footprint, claiming to be the world's first to do so. The carbon footprint of beef products is relatively high compared to other foods. The carbon footprint of a meat product is calculated by adding up the greenhouse gas emissions from the methane emitted by the cattle, the machinery used on the farm, and the transportation of the cattle, including trucks. This fast-food chain took a different approach, advocating for "less meat" and launching "less-meat products." The company aimed for transparency with consumers and hoped other fast-food businesses would follow suit. Max Burger unexpectedly gained significant brand exposure by disclosing its carbon footprint, without any negative impact. A recent survey in Sweden showed that 92% of consumers wanted to know more about a product's "green credentials" when purchasing it. Climate Label vs. Carbon Label: Due to the complexity and expense of carbon footprint calculation, two Swedish food manufacturers are currently developing a simpler and more easily understood label to replace the abstract meaning of carbon footprint. The label under development is called the Climate Label, which is used in agriculture...

2010-01-06

Chemical Footprint of COP15

The Carbon Footprint of COP15: December nights in Denmark are bitterly cold, and winter isn't peak tourist season. However, nearly 20,000 people from around the world flocked to this Nordic country with a population of just over 5 million in recent days. They (including BBC Chinese reporters) were there to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) held in Copenhagen from December 7th to 18th. The main purpose of the conference was to discuss how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but the fact that tens of thousands of people came from all corners of the world raised questions about whether the conference itself was environmentally friendly. Former US Vice President Al Gore launched Live Earth, a global concert tour aimed at promoting environmental protection, in 2007. While receiving applause, it also faced considerable criticism. At the time, many environmentalists pointed out that the large number of singers traveling the world by plane for performances already generated a significant amount of carbon dioxide, the so-called "carbon footprint." A 40,000-ton carbon footprint: Perhaps learning from past experiences, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has placed particular emphasis on reducing the "carbon footprint" of the Copenhagen climate conference. The UNFCCC initially estimates that the climate conference, lasting less than two weeks, will generate more than 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide. These greenhouse gas emissions mainly come from two sources: transportation used by participants to and from the conference.

2010-01-06

The U.S. CPSIA reiterates its regulations regarding lead content in textiles

The US CPSIA reiterates its regulations on lead content in textiles. Based on the "Statement of Policy: Testing and Certification of Lead Content in Children’s Products" published by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in October 2009, the CPSC considers the probability of certain textile raw materials containing more than 300 ppm of lead to be extremely low, therefore exempting them from related testing and certification requirements. Excluded products include: 1. Textiles: including all dyed and undyed natural and synthetic fibers, but excluding textiles with post-processing applications such as dyeing, transfer printing, and printing. 2. Four-color printing (CMYK): dyes such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. 3. Raw materials derived from plants and animals: such as feathers and untreated leather. Example: Material | Testing Required | Reason/Limit Unprinted dyed fabric | No | Unprinted textiles are determined to have a very low probability of containing more than 300 ppm of lead, therefore testing is not required. Zippers – Textiles (such as zipper tape) No Zippers – Plastic, metal, and painted components Yes Lead content: 300 ppm Pigment lead content: 90

2010-01-06

China has released the "Requirements for Pollution Control Labeling of Electronic Information Products".

China released the "Requirements for Pollution Control Labeling of Electronic Information Products" on November 17, 2009. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially released SJ/Z 11388-2009, "General Rules for the Environmentally Friendly Use Period of Electronic Information Products." This standard is a guiding technical document, used in conjunction with the "Requirements for Pollution Control Labeling of Electronic Information Products" (SJ/T 11364-2006). It mainly stipulates the general rules for determining the environmentally friendly use period of electronic information products containing hazardous substances. It can effectively guide enterprises to determine the environmentally friendly use period of their products more scientifically and rationally. Laws and Regulations | Supporting Standards | Implementation Date * **Administrative Measures for Pollution Control of Electronic Information Products (No. 39)** [Promulgated on February 28, 2006; officially effective March 1, 2007] * **Limits of Hazardous Substances in Electronic Information Products (SJ-T 11363-2006)** November 6, 2006 * **Detection Methods for Hazardous Substances in Electronic Information Products (SJ-T 11365-2006)** * **Pollution Control Labeling Requirements for Electronic Information Products (SJ-T 11364-2006)** * **General Rules for the Use of Electronic Information Products within the Environmental Protection Period (SJ/Z 11388-2009)** January 1, 2010 – References

2010-01-06

Frequently Asked Questions about China's "General Rules for the Environmentally Friendly Use Period of Electronic Information Products"

2010-01-06

EU updates list of plastics and plastic products that come into contact with food

The European Union updated its list of plastics and plastic products that come into contact with food. The Official Journal of the European Union published Regulation 975/2009 on 20 October 2009, revising European Commission Directive 2002/72/EC. Directive 2002/72/EC aims to regulate plastics and plastic products that come into contact with food. It lists monomers and other reactive substances that can be used to manufacture plastics and plastic products that come into contact with food. Furthermore, Directive 2002/72/EC restricts the use of monomers and other reactive substances and establishes rules on labeling and providing consumers or food operators with information on the correct use of these materials and items. The directive also includes a list of additives that can be used to manufacture plastics and plastic products. Other monomers, reactive substances, and additives may be added to the existing list after approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Directive 2002/72/EC does not include the following products: The list of substances and products permitted for use in contact with food includes: Annexes 2 and 3 specify the specific conditions of use for the above substances and the upper limits of specific leaching values (in mg/kg) for food. For containers with a capacity of less than 500 ml or more than 10 liters, the specific leaching limit is indicated in mg/dm² of the packaging surface area. Regulation 975/2009 also lists a list of additives that manufacturers may use in the manufacture of products. Therefore, the revised list will take effect on January 1, 2010.

2009-11-07

SwedenTCOIntroduces Screen MonitorTCO Cutting EdgeVerification

The Swedish TCO organization has launched the TCO Cutting Edge certification for monitors. The TCO certification standard, developed by the Swedish TCO organization, recently introduced the TCO Certified Edge Display 1.0 certification standard for monitors. This certification is designed for products that comply with existing TCO monitor specifications, aiming to select the most environmentally friendly electronic products on the market. In the future, the TCO organization will also develop its own TCO Certified Edge standards for other product categories. In addition to requiring products to comply with monitor specifications, TCO Certified Edge Display 1.0 also requires that the product contain at least 65% recycled plastic. For example, a monitor that has obtained TCO Displays 5.0 certification and then obtains TCO Certified Edge certification will have a certificate category of "TCO Certified Edge," and the TCO specifications it complies with will be listed as "TCO Displays 5.0" and "TCO Certified Edge." TCO Certified Edge requires computer monitors applying for this certification to contain at least 65% recycled plastic. This requirement is also expected to help the electronics industry reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 860,000 tons after five years of implementation. This reduction is expected to be achieved from discarded plastic bottles, food containers, and other waste.

2009-11-07

The European Union announced recalls of several defective products manufactured in mainland China in the 38th week of 2009

The EU announced recalls of several defective products manufactured in mainland China in the 38th week of 2009. The recalls, as reported by the National Bureau of Standardization, were not found to be sold in China. The recalls were based on notifications from the EU Health and Consumer Protection Council's Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products (RAPEX) in the 39th week of 2009. A UK importer voluntarily recalled knitted decorative items branded "Junction 18" manufactured in mainland China because the product posed a risk of choking on children under 3 years old. The product could be used as a toy, and the plastic eyes were prone to falling off, potentially leading to ingestion by young children, thus failing to comply with the Toy Directive and relevant EU standard EN 71. German importers have voluntarily recalled and destroyed women's shoes made in mainland China under an unidentified brand because the lining and heel contained 880 mg/kg and 1700 mg/kg of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) respectively, exceeding the permissible limit of 0.1 mg/kg. DMF is a potent chemical, and consumers are prohibited from using this product. Separately, German importers have also voluntarily recalled women's boots made in mainland China under the brand Graceland because they contained 24 mg/kg of DMF, exceeding the permissible limit of 0.1 mg/kg. DMF is also a potent chemical, and consumers are prohibited from using this product.

2009-11-07

EU-ETS Under Cyber ​​Attack; EU Plans to Revise Rules

Chemical Footprint of COP15

The U.S. CPSIA reiterates its regulations regarding lead content in textiles

SwedenTCOIntroduces Screen MonitorTCO Cutting EdgeVerification

The European Union announced recalls of several defective products manufactured in mainland China in the 38th week of 2009

California RoHS requirements for lighting fixtures will take effect on January 1, 2010

EU-ETS Under Cyber ​​Attack; EU Plans to Revise Rules

Chemical Footprint of COP15

The U.S. CPSIA reiterates its regulations regarding lead content in textiles

SwedenTCOIntroduces Screen MonitorTCO Cutting EdgeVerification

The European Union announced recalls of several defective products manufactured in mainland China in the 38th week of 2009

California RoHS requirements for lighting fixtures will take effect on January 1, 2010

EU-ETS Under Cyber Attack; EU Plans to Revise Rules

EU-ETS Under Cyber Attack; EU Plans to Revise Rules