The Korean Agency for Science, Technology and Standards (KATS) recently announced a proposal to revise the "Industrial Product Safety and Quality Labelling Standards" (Annex 1: Home Textile Products). According to a document issued by the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade of the World Trade Organization, such requirements should be implemented by September 2012. The purpose of the revision is to: • Ensure children's safety from risks posed by hazardous materials or fire by revising the safety and quality labeling standards for children's clothing, restricting the use of hazardous materials, or adding warning information. Key revisions include: • Adding restrictions on the use of nickel in electromagnetic shielding fabrics. • Mandatory clear labeling of flame symbols ("Caution: Flame") on flammable children's pajamas. • Adding restrictions on the use of phthalate plasticizers in children's backpacks. • Product projects subject to safety management are identified: - Children's textile products: backpacks (including school bags); - Outdoor clothing: swimwear, sportswear, tracksuits, cold-proof masks; - Outerwear: warm arm warmers; - Bedding: hammocks; Table 1: Safety requirements under current textile safety and quality standards Test Item Requirements Children's textiles (under 12 years old)* Underwear Outdoor clothing Outerwear and bedding Formaldehyde (mg/kg) 75 or less 300 or less pH 4.0 to

Japan has released a new version of the GHS standard (JIS Z 7253). This standard integrates two existing standards: the GHS Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (Z 7250) and the GHS Labelling Regulations (Z 7251). The new standard is a revision based on the content of the fourth edition of the UN Purple Book. GHS stands for Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. In December 2002, the United Nations Expert Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNCETDG/GHS) developed the GHS system, which was officially adopted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in July 2003, and authorized for translation into official UN languages ​​for worldwide use. The main revisions include: * Shortening the term "MSDS" to "SDS," which will be used in labeling and SDS preparation. * New standard requirements...

On December 15, 2011, ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) released a new version of the mandatory toy safety standard, ASTM F963-11, aimed at continuously monitoring and addressing toy safety issues. Simultaneously, in accordance with Section 106 of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Promotion Act (CPSIA), ASTM formally notified the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of this updated version. The CPSC was to confirm its approval or rejection of the updated version within 90 days (March 14, 2012). If the CPSC did not respond within 90 days, the new standard, ASTM F963-11, would become the official toy testing regulation 180 days after its release (June 12, 2012). The main revisions are summarized below: Physical Property Testing 1. Toys with spherical ends – Clearly define the product scope and provide illustrations to ensure consistent testing. 2. Stability of riding toys or toy seats – Introduce load placement for front-to-back stability and lateral stability. 3. Squeezable Toys – Narrowing the scope of this requirement to only the squeezing parts of the toy. 4. Elastic Rope Toys – Specifying the length of the elastic rope when it is fully extended during rotation. 5. Flammability – Changing “should” to “shall” to indicate a responsibility. 6. Stuffing Material – In addition to fibrous stuffing, “loose stuffing” includes any other natural or synthetic stuffing material.

The China Air Transport Association (CATA) announced on January 4th that Chinese mainland airlines will refuse to pay any expenses under the EU's new emissions trading scheme. Launched in 2005, the emissions trading scheme is one of the main pillars of the EU's efforts to combat climate change. From January 1st, all airlines using EU airports are included in this trading system. Chai Haibo, Deputy Secretary-General of CATA, stated, "China will not cooperate with the EU on the emissions trading scheme. Therefore, Chinese mainland airlines will not levy any additional fees related to emissions taxes on passengers." (Source: Hong Kong Commercial Daily, January 5, 2012)

Before the end of 2011, countries around the world successively updated their local chemical management regulations, setting off a new wave in this seemingly endless battle for environmental sustainability and chemicals. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recently announced the addition of 33 substances, including 4-chlorobenzaldehyde, to its list of "mutagenic chemicals." This list already included 672 new chemicals and 144 existing chemicals. Chemicals included on this list will be required to undergo on-site inspections, provide occupational safety guidelines, appropriate product labeling, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) before they can be used. On December 28, 2011, China's Ministry of Environmental Protection published the "List of Toxic Chemicals Strictly Restricted for Import and Export in China" (2012). Anyone importing or exporting chemicals on this list must apply to the Ministry of Environmental Protection for a "Toxic Chemical Import Environmental Management Registration Certificate" and a "Toxic Chemical Import (Export) Environmental Management Release Notice," which came into effect on January 1, 2012. In late 2011, Norway notified the WTO of an impending ban on the sale and import/export of consumer products containing excessive amounts of lead, pentachlorophenol (PCP), medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) within Norway. This ban was expected to be adopted in the spring of 2012 and take effect on July 1, 2012. However, it is currently known that the ban does not cover food, food packaging, fertilizers, tobacco, or pharmaceuticals.

1. California Supply Chain Transparency Act: The Supply Chain Transparency Act became California law in September 2010, requiring retailers and manufacturers in the state with annual global revenue exceeding $100 million to disclose supply chain information. The regulations took effect on January 1, 2012, and aim to eliminate slavery and human trafficking within the product supply chain. Retailers and manufacturers must provide prominent and easily accessible links on their company websites to access relevant information. Retailers or manufacturers must disclose the implementation of the following measures: • Verifying the product supply chain to assess and address the risks of human trafficking and slavery (if verification is not conducted by independent contractors, this must be stated in the disclosure); • Auditing suppliers to assess their compliance with the company's standards for human trafficking and slavery within the supply chain (if verification is not conducted by independent contractors without prior public announcement, this must be stated in the disclosure); • Requiring direct suppliers to certify that the materials used in their products comply with the laws on slavery and human trafficking in the countries where they operate; • Implementing internal accountability guidelines and procedures to investigate and prosecute employees or contractors who fail to comply with the company's standards on slavery and human trafficking;

Recently, several non-governmental organizations, including the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, released a pollution investigation report on the mainland's textile industry, titled "Clean Up Fashion," which named 48 well-known international and domestic clothing brands as "dirty fashion," including ZARA, H&M, and Adidas, citing significant pollution in their supply chain production processes. The report calls for attention to the "unbeautiful" environment behind the pursuit of fashion. Greenpeace's latest investigation also revealed that some well-known brands' clothing contains residual toxic chemical NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate), which is released in large quantities during washing and subsequently discharged into rivers, lakes, and oceans, transforming into the more toxic and endocrine-disrupting chemical NP (nonylphenol). Alarmingly, China's per capita available water resources are only one-quarter of the world average, yet in 2010, China's total textile exports accounted for 34% of the world's total exports. According to the "China Environmental Statistics Yearbook" (2010), the textile industry ranked third among China's 39 major industries in terms of total wastewater discharge, discharging approximately 2.5 billion tons of wastewater annually. The investigation report further points out that, under the same production conditions, the average pollutant content in mainland China's dyeing and printing wastewater is 2 to 3 times higher than that abroad, while water consumption is as high as 3 to 4 times. Dyeing and printing wastewater discharge accounts for 80% of the total wastewater discharge from the entire textile industry. This makes it even more difficult to find clean rivers and lakes in densely populated areas of China, where water resources are already limited, and even drinking water carries a risk of toxicity. This has seriously affected the health and quality of life of millions of people. Since 2003...

India has released a draft National Chemicals Management Plan for 2012, with the Chemicals and Fertilizers Authority (CFA) calling for legislation similar to the EU's REACH Regulation to streamline existing chemical regulations and improve chemical safety. The draft plan was submitted by the CFA in late March. It outlines objectives and methods to enhance the competitiveness of India's chemical industry, or to merge existing chemical regulations under different authorities. India notes that the EU REACH Regulation has replaced nearly 40 different related laws, and that Australia, Canada, Japan, and China have adopted similar policies to solidify their global market position and competitiveness. Therefore, India plans to implement a similar chemical management strategy. Besides merging existing regulations, the draft plan identifies the following gaps in India's chemical management: > Substance registration > Preparation of a national chemical list > Restrictions on hazardous substances > Classification and labeling standards > Transport classification. Although India had previously considered legislating on these points, complex technical issues and legal consistency prevented their formal inclusion in regulations. The Indian Chemicals and Fertilizers Authority (ICA) has indicated the need for a National Chemical Centre (NCC) to regulate the implementation of draft regulations, including international oversight.

On May 1, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) revised the rules for notifying new chemical substances, requiring companies that produce or import new chemical substances to submit "Notifications of the Same Chemical Substance" within a specified time. "Notification of the Same Chemical Substance" refers to multiple notifiers sharing test data for a substance. Besides the original notifier, all other notifiers sharing the test data must submit their reports by the specified deadline (right column of the table below), along with a copy of the original notifier's assessment data. To comply with standard testing methods, identification criteria, and designated monitoring substances for new chemical substances, Japanese authorities will assess substances submitted under "Notifications of the Same Chemical Substance" to determine whether they are classified as Priority Assessment Chemical Substances (PACs). Companies that received "Notifications of the Same Chemical Substance" assessment notices before the end of March must provide information by the deadline (left column of the table below), including the notification acceptance number, company name, and contact person information, to assist in completing the PAC assessment. Companies submitting "Notifications of the Same Chemical Substance" must simultaneously prepare and submit the new chemical substance notification. The deadlines in the left column of the table below are primarily for "Notifications of the Same Chemical Substance" that require screening toxicity testing. Considering the increased workload that such notifications may involve, these deadlines are approximately two weeks earlier than the normal notification deadline.

On April 9, the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) of South Korea issued three notices revising the Toxic Substances List (TSCL) and the Regulatory Chemical Substances List (OCSL) under the Toxic Chemicals Control Act (TCCA). Two substances were added to the TSCL list: TCCA No. Substance Name CAS No. Threshold Value Notification Date Hazard 2012-1-639 [(2E)-1,4-dichloro-2-butene 110-57-6 Mixtures containing 0.1% or more of this substance 2012/4/9 Environmentally corrosive, harmful, toxic 2012-1-640 diboron trioxide 1303-86-2 Mixtures containing 0.3% or more of this substance 2012/4/9 Highly toxic One substance was deleted and one was added to the OCSL list: TCCA No. Substance Name CAS No. Threshold Value Notification Date Remarks 2010-2-63 3,3'-Dimethoxybenzidine 110-90-4 Mixtures containing 25% or more of this substance 2012/4/9 Deleted 2012-2-76 2-(butoxymeth

Australia’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (Nicnas) has published a resolution listing seven chemicals used exclusively in cosmetics and their associated conditions of use for addition to the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS). During a 28-day transition period, relevant groups can apply for a review of the resolution. If no appeals are received, the seven chemicals will be included in the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances from June 2012. These seven chemicals will be considered existing chemicals for use under specific conditions and will be allowed to enter Australia without submitting pre-market or post-market reports to Nicnas. This is also part of the Chemicals Act (CW, November 10, 2011). Nicnas also proposed removing certain single ionic and alloying substances that do not meet the chemical compliance criteria from the inventory. INCI name/AAN CAS name CAS No. Conditions of Use Acetyl Carnitine HCL (AAN: Acetyllevo)

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a significant new rule on May 30th regarding the use of mercury in barometers, sphygmomanometers, hygrometers, and air hygrometers. This rule requires any manufacturer or importer intending to produce, import, or process mercury for these purposes to notify the EPA at least 90 days in advance so that the EPA can assess the situation and, if necessary, restrict the use of mercury. This rule will take effect on June 29, 2012. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the export of mercury requires notification. Prior to January 1, 2013, the export of mercury from the United States was prohibited under the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008. Meanwhile, the EU REACH Committee stated that similar policies will restrict the use of mercury in these devices, expected to take effect 18 months after the official publication of the restriction notice in the Official Journal in August of this year. (http://green.pidc.org.tw/news.php?action=detail&id=1106) Source: Federal Register (Compiled by PIDC on May 30, 2012)

Taiwan's Department of Health, Executive Yuan, has established "Hygienic Standards for Food Utensils, Containers, and Packaging." Recently, it imposed chemical testing requirements on plastic bottles (including baby bottles) made of materials such as polycarbonate (PC) and polystyrene (PS), specifying the following limits and safety labeling requirements: Name | Limit DEHP | Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | 1.5ppm DBP | Dibutyl phthalate | 0.3ppm BPA | Bisphenol A | 30ppb The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced on March 26 that it randomly purchased 20 "children's bath toys" for testing in February of this year. The results showed that 5 items exceeded the limit for "plasticizer content," a failure rate of 25%, with the highest exceeding the limit by 380 times; regarding labeling, 2 items did not have a "product safety label," a failure rate of 10%; and 5 items had "Chinese labeling" that did not meet regulations, a failure rate of 25%. According to the national toy safety standard CNS 4797, the total weight percentage of the six phthalate plasticizers (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, and DNOP) and their mixtures in a product must not exceed 0.1%. To ensure consumers are fully informed about product information and precautions when purchasing plastic food containers and packaging, and to prevent improper use, the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, announced a draft of "Labeling Requirements for Plastic Food Containers and Packaging" two years ago (2010), and officially announced the designated plastic food containers and packaging on July 21, 2011.