The European Commission issued a draft report in the summer of 2011 to provide some information on which products will be included in the scope of the Environmental Design Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC). However, the latest news indicates that the European Commission will delay making a final decision on the relevant regulations. Despite this, the authorities have not slowed down the implementation of other provisions of the Environmental Design Directive. In particular, several new product categories are being reviewed to improve their design and make them more environmentally friendly. The first Environmental Design Directive (Directive 2005/32/EC) only regulates energy-using products. The current directive also covers energy-related products (such as bathroom accessories such as faucets and showerheads, and thermal insulation products such as windows and building materials). The current Environmentally Friendly Design Directive only establishes a regulatory framework for authorities to formulate environmentally friendly design regulations, while the European Commission is responsible for formulating detailed implementation rules. The European Commission will develop a work plan, including a list of example products, and the products in the list will be prioritized for implementation of enforcement rules in the next three years. The above-mentioned draft report was published in August and discussed in advance the European Commission's work plan from 2012 to 2014. The draft report includes a list of example products, including faucets, showerheads, detergents, mobile phones, electric kettles and home audio products. Product rankings are based on factors such as energy consumption and market size, and are based on a product's environmental improvement potential. Among these products, there are many types of imported goods from mainland China. Therefore, the final product list is closely related to Hong Kong companies. Previously, the European Commission expected to

On December 14, 2011, the European Parliament adopted the European Commission's legislative proposal to ban phosphorus in laundry detergents for consumer use from June 30, 2013, and to limit the content of other phosphorus-containing compounds. From January 1, 2017, the same restrictions apply to automatic dishwasher detergents for consumer use. If conditions permit, EU member states may implement the above restrictions early, and the European Commission must review the situation before December 31, 2014. The new regulations aim to reduce the phosphorus content of wastewater and improve water quality. The Regulation does not affect professional detergents as there are currently no technically and economically viable alternatives in the EU. Some member states have set limits on the phosphorus content of detergents, but the limits vary, while others rely on detergent manufacturers to regulate themselves. The new regulations can coordinate measures across the EU. The European Commission will closely monitor the industry's progress in developing phosphorus alternatives to detergents for automatic dishwashers to determine whether the restrictions will be implemented in time for January 1, 2017. The European Commission proposed the above motion because wastewater containing phosphorus has caused excess nutrients and algae growth in European waters, harming other aquatic life. Some phosphorus substitutes also contain phosphorus, and high concentrations may also cause environmental problems, so the new regulations set an upper limit for total phosphorus content. The European Commission claims that there are cost-effective alternatives to phosphorus used in laundry detergents. Therefore, the new regulations will set a new upper limit for phosphorus content in consumer laundry detergents. Calculated based on hard water hardness, each standard laundry dose can only contain 0.5 grams of phosphorus. In June 2013,

In 2012, Denmark will take over the rotating presidency of the EU. Carbon prices in the EU's emissions trading system have dropped to a four-year low. Denmark believes this is unsustainable and has vowed to take action to deal with the problem. Danish Minister of Climate and Energy Martin Lidegaard said at a briefing in Brussels that it is obvious that everyone understands that a market price of 6 euros for carbon emissions is unsustainable, not only economically or environmentally. The trading price of carbon emissions expiring in December 2012 fell by as much as 3.8% to 6.87 euros, and the trading price on the ICE London European Futures Exchange was 7.38 euros. Lidegaard said how to solve this problem depends on our energy efficiency directive, as well as the future energy roadmap and climate roadmap. It may be too early to deal with this now, but it is something that will have to be dealt with sooner or later. In December 2012, the number of EU licenses issued decreased by 50%. The market speculated that the debt crisis in the Eurozone may worsen this year (2011). If too many licenses are issued, there are concerns that new energy efficiency measures in Europe may be harmed. The European Parliament's Environment Committee will vote soon on whether to adopt revised energy efficiency proposals proposed by the European Commission in June. These include the need to decide on the number of carbon subsidy quotas within six months of the law being implemented. Main priorities Lidegaard said that Denmark will hold the EU presidency for six months next year. During this period, the energy and climate fields, as well as energy efficiency, will be the main priorities. Other priorities include discussing political decisions made earlier this year

Taiwan – 15/03/12 ECHA public consultation on the seventh batch of proposed substances of very high concern (SVHC) No. 03/2012 The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) recently announced the seventh batch of proposed substances of very high concern (SVHC) on its website. These 13 proposed substances were proposed by EU member states because these substances are considered to have potential serious harm or impact on human health or the environment. Interested parties will be able to submit comments on these 13 proposed substances before April 12, 2012. These comments will be taken into consideration when deciding whether to include these proposed substances in the SVHC Candidate List and select them from the Candidate List to become authorized substances. The following are the proposed 13 new substances of high concern: Substance name EC number CAS number Substance classification 1,2-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)ethane (TEGDME; triglyme) Triglyme 203-977-3 112-49- 2 Carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR) 1,2-dimethoxyethane; ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (EGDME) ethylene glycol dimethyl ether 203-794-9 110

Taiwan – 15/02/12 The European Union extends the temporary ban on dimethyl fumarate (DMF) No. 01/2012. In January 2012, the European Commission (European Commission) published Directive 2012/48/EU in the Official Journal ( OJ, decided to extend the temporary ban on dimethylfumarate (DMF). DMF has been used as a preservative in the manufacturing industry until the 98/8/EC directive was promulgated. However, this directive did not restrict the import of DMF-treated goods into the EU. DMF is usually carried in pouches inside furniture or added to shoe boxes. DMF will volatilize and penetrate into products, preventing them from becoming moldy; it can also penetrate into consumers' skin through clothing, causing skin contact dermatitis, itching, irritation, redness and burns. In some cases, it can cause difficulty breathing. Therefore, the EU has taken emergency measures, and the European Commission has adopted Resolution 2009/251/EC that goods containing DMF are not allowed to enter or be produced in the EU. Later, Resolution 2009/251/EC was extended to Resolution 2010/153/EU and Resolution 2011/135/EU, which were effective until March 15, 2012. This directive will officially enter into force on March 15, 2012. It will not be until March 15, 2013 or until the final revised version of REACH is released that the DMF will be revised to Appendix 17 of the REACH regulations and become permanent.

The German Federal Committee for Technical Equipment and Consumer Goods for Work (AtAV) passed a resolution on November 20, 2007, that all GS certification agencies must be mandatory for products certified by GS Mark to be included in the US Environmental Protection Agency from April 1, 2008. Testing requirements for PAHs. At the ZEK meeting in September 2011, the AtAV Committee agreed to expand the current PAHs list from 16 items to 18 items, which is applicable to the testing of all products. Two newly added PAHs compounds are: Chemical name CAS NO. Benzo[j]fluoranthen 205-82-3 Benzo[e]pyren 192-97-2 Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) are usually found in petrochemicals, rubber, and plastics , lubricants, anti-rust oils, and incompletely burned organic compounds, some of them remain in products due to their use in the manufacturing process, such as plastics, dyes, and pesticide manufacturing. In electronic and electrical products, Plastic and rubber materials, black or dark-colored hard polymer materials, surface coatings and paints, and preservatives for brush hair/leather/fiber and wood may contain PAHs; in addition, the PAHs on the list have been confirmed to be carcinogens . GS MARK – PAHs list (compatible with EU REACH Annex 17, US Environmental Protection Agency controlled P

On December 19, 2011, the European Chemicals Agency ECHA issued an announcement officially announcing the sixth batch of 20 SVHCs. According to ECHA, p-teroctylphenol was originally nominated by Germany as an SVHC defined in Article 57(f) of the REACH regulation. It has endocrine disrupting properties and has serious potential harm to the environment. The remaining 19 substances nominated are classified as carcinogenic, teratogenic or toxic to reproduction (CMR). ECHA believes that these substances have potentially serious effects on human health. As of now, there are six batches of SVHC with 73 items. ECHA announced the first batch of 15 substances of high concern in October 2008, the second batch in January 2010, the third batch in June 2010, the fourth batch in December 2010, and June 2011. The fifth batch. Member states believe that more and more substances will be included in the list of substances of high concern in the future. REACH SVHCs added to 73 serial number substances EC No. CAS No. Purpose 2008.10.28 The first batch of 15 substances of high concern 1 Sodium dichromate dihydrate 234-190-3 7789-12-0 For tanning Sodium dichromate (7789-12-0 and 10588-01-9) 10588-01-9 2 xylene

Taiwan – 28/11/11 The European Union announced the draft restriction on the use of dimethyl fumarate No. 20/2011. The European Commission recently announced a draft to amend Appendix 17 of the REACH regulation to include dimethyl fumarate (DMF). Becoming Item 61 will restrict the use of DMF in consumer products. DMF has been used as a preservative in the manufacturing industry until the 98/8/EC directive was promulgated. However, this directive did not restrict the import of DMF-treated goods into the EU. DMF is usually carried in pouches inside furniture or added to shoe boxes. DMF will volatilize and penetrate into the product to prevent the product from becoming moldy; however, it can also penetrate into the consumer's skin through clothing, causing skin contact dermatitis, itching, irritation, redness and burns. In some cases, it can cause breathing difficulties. Therefore, the EU has taken emergency measures, and the European Commission Resolution No. 2009/251/EC states that goods containing DMF are not allowed to enter or be produced in the EU. Later, Resolution 2009/251/EC was extended to Resolution 2010/153/EU and Resolution 2011/135/EU, which were effective until March 15, 2012. If the draft amendment to the DMF to Appendix 17 of the REACH regulation is passed, the emergency restriction decision will become a permanent restriction decree. If the draft is passed at the REACH Committee meeting in November, this regulation will take effect 20 days after it is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ). draft regulations

Taiwan – 28/12/11 20 new substances were added to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern No. 21/2011 On December 19, 2011, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) announced that 20 substances will be added to the sixth batch of SVHC Candidate List. . Among the newly added items, except for 4-tert-octylphenol, which is a must-interfering substance, the remaining 19 items are all carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reproductive toxic (CMR) substances. The hazard level of endocrine disruptors (environmental hormones) is equivalent to that of carcinogens, mutagenic substances, reproductive toxins (CRMs), persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances (PBTs), highly persistent and highly bioaccumulative substances (vPvBs), and they will also affect the environment.