The Japanese Toy Safety Standard (ST-2002, 10th Edition) was revised on August 23, 2011, regarding the chemical properties of toys. The revised standard aligns the phthalate content in the plastic materials of designated toys with the new Food Sanitation Law. The new requirements for phthalate content in the ST standard are summarized below: This revision is effective for ST applications received after August 23, 2011. For applications received before September 5, 2011, the existing regulations remain in effect. The "temporary measures" adopted on August 10, 2011, have been repealed with the implementation of this revised ST standard. Applications already received and those currently undergoing testing remain valid after the repeal of the "temporary measures." Test reports issued by STC under the "temporary measures" are still recognized by the ST Mark program. Source: UNCTAD (September 8, 2011)

On May 19, 2011, Maryland became the fifth state in the United States to regulate the cadmium content in children's jewelry. The scope, requirements, and effective dates for each state are summarized below: Jurisdiction | Act | Scope | Requirements | Effective Date Maryland | Chapter 578 (HB145, Session 2011) Jewelry for children under 13 | Cadmium content ≤ 75ppm | July 1, 2012 Minnesota | Chapter 347 (SF 2510, 2010 session) Jewelry for children under 6: Surface coatings or accessible undercoatings of metal or plastic parts | Soluble cadmium content ≤ 75ppm | Manufacturers or wholesalers: January 1, 2011; Retailers: March 1, 2011 Connecticut | Public Act 10-113 (HB5314, Session 2010) Jewelry for children under 12 | Cadmium content ≤ 75ppm | July 1, 2014 Illinois | Public Act 96-1379 (HB 5040, Session 2010) Jewelry for children under 12: Paint or surface coating or accessible undercoat; soluble cadmium content ≤ 75 ppm. July 1, 2011, California, Chapter 313 (SB 929, State of 2010). Children under 6.

Ottawa, Canada, is considering limiting the cadmium content in children's jewelry. Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq has proposed guidelines to limit cadmium levels in children's jewelry to below 130 ppm, as swallowing or putting jewelry in the mouth can cause serious health problems for children. The Ministry of Health stated that wearing jewelry alone is not problematic, but ingesting cadmium is dangerous. From the date of the proposed guidelines until October 10, 2011, the public can comment on the cadmium levels proposed by the government. If this ban is passed, the new law will allow the government to follow up with suppliers selling toys containing cadmium, conduct risk assessments, and even order suppliers to recall products or seek remedial measures. The government may also pursue prosecution. Cadmium is a cheap substitute for lead in lower-end imported jewelry, but if ingested through swallowing, prolonged licking, or sucking, its harmful effects may be greater than those of lead. Cadmium is a known carcinogen and can also damage the kidneys. Source: CNEWS (July 25, 2011)

Aviation fuel accounts for 35% to 40% of the total cost structure of the aviation industry. With persistently high oil prices and an international consensus to gradually raise carbon emission reduction standards, aviation operators have begun to study the feasibility of replacing traditional petrochemical fuels with biofuels. Since the first trial of biofuel-powered aircraft five years ago, at least six airlines have recently adopted biofuel-powered commercial aircraft for passenger flights. Biofuels refer to fuels derived from living organic matter or the metabolic products of living organic matter, including organic fuels derived from the fermentation of biomass such as corn, sugarcane, tung oil, and soybeans. Unlike traditional petrochemical fuels, biofuels, from production to combustion, use carbon from the current environmental cycle, rather than the "carbon from the past" released by burning petrochemical/fossil fuels. Therefore, biofuels do not increase the total amount of carbon in the atmosphere and can be considered carbon-neutral fuels. Since the aviation industry accounts for approximately 2% to 3% of global annual carbon emissions, reducing its total carbon emissions is a crucial part of global emissions reduction plans. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) targets, the global aviation industry must achieve "carbon neutral growth" by 2020, meaning that while expanding its overall business scale, it must still maintain [zero carbon emissions growth].

Australian scientists have issued a warning about climate change. Leading Australian scientists stated that the impacts of climate change and the appropriate attitude towards it, if reflected in politics, are akin to a democratic competition where the ultimate goal is to gain public support. Therefore, they are calling on nationally leading or controlling energy institutions and industries related to carbon to address this issue as soon as possible to reduce environmental pollution. Scientists say that if the temperature rise limit is kept below 2°C, carbon emissions will have peaked by 2020 and will inevitably decline; this is a global and unavoidable task. McIndoe, CEO of an Australian energy company, stated that since we have relied on coal for nearly 60 years, by 2020, Australia's dependence on coal will be an unchangeable fact. - Reference: PLANET

On May 21, 2011, the Official Journal of the European Union published European Commission Regulation 494/2011, expanding the ban on cadmium-containing products to include plastic articles, jewelry, and brazing rods. Since 1992, the EU has banned the use of cadmium in most plastics, and the ban was further extended to batteries and electronic products in 2004. Under the 1992 ban, cadmium could still be used in some rigid plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), due to the difficulty in finding suitable alternatives. However, the European Commission determined that suitable alternatives were available on the market and therefore extended the ban to all plastic articles. Under the new ban, articles and mixtures made of plastic with a cadmium content equal to or greater than 0.01% by weight cannot be placed on the market. However, the European Commission will continue to promote the recycling and reuse of low-cadmium PVC waste, but only for a limited range of products, such as construction products. Recycled low-cadmium PVC must be labeled with a specific mark to inform users of its cadmium content before it can be placed on the market. Regulation 494/2011 will review this specific mark. Furthermore, because several types of jewelry, such as synthetic jewelry, have been found to contain dangerous levels of cadmium, the European Commission has decided it is necessary to implement a ban to regulate the cadmium content in jewelry. Cadmium is a carcinogen that can enter the bloodstream through skin contact. Therefore, the European Commission believes that the use of cadmium in jewelry must be completely banned. Regulation 494/2011 establishes relevant provisions prohibiting the placement of products with a cadmium content exceeding 0.01% by weight on the market. These products include:

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that Norway will control its carbon dioxide emissions through carbon emission permits. The OECD indicates that by 2020, Norway will be able to purchase carbon emission permits on the European market to fulfill its commitment to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Norway's total greenhouse gas emissions increased from 49.8 million tons in 1990 to 51.3 million tons in 2009. A 20% reduction from 1990 emissions would mean a decrease to approximately 39.8 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Norwegian officials stated that most of the greenhouse gas reductions will be achieved through domestic actions. The OECD points out that a Norwegian government study assessed that by 2020, emitting 1 ton of carbon dioxide would be equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 120,000 tons, based on a global exchange rate of €200. - Reference: PLANET

Plasticizers have raised serious concerns about plastic, and the public is also worried about the safety of reusable cups. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced today that it has drafted a standard for environmental labeling of reusable cups and held a public hearing. It hopes to announce the standard in August for manufacturers to apply for, allowing consumers to choose safe reusable cups based on the label. The plasticizer scandal has caused widespread fear of plastics, and in addition to reducing the use of plastic containers in daily life, people have also raised safety concerns about their own reusable beverage containers (i.e., reusable cups). The EPA stated today that it has drafted a standard for the environmental labeling of reusable cups and held its second public hearing on June 13th. A review meeting is expected at the end of June, and if the administrative process goes smoothly, the "Standard for Environmental Labeling of Reusable Cups" is expected to be announced in August for manufacturers to apply for. In the future, consumers can choose reusable cups with the environmental label to ensure they are free of toxic substances such as plasticizers, PVC, and bisphenol A. According to the draft standards for the eco-label of reusable cups currently being developed by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), chlorine-containing plastics cannot be used in reusable cups. Applicants must submit a report on the plastic material. For metal reusable cup lids made of plastic, the parts in contact with the beverage must not exceed the following standards: heavy metals (less than 1 ppm), DEHP (less than 1.5 ppm), DBP (less than 0.3 ppm), and bisphenol A (less than 0.03 micrograms per milliliter). In addition to meeting the above standards, plastic beverage cups must also meet certain heat resistance standards. The EPA stated that some domestic manufacturers have already expressed their intention to apply for the eco-label. -Source: Central News Agency (2011-06-16)

A survey released on the 13th by a US consumer protection group indicated that, according to a test report from the US Department of Agriculture, a staggering 98% of 700 apple samples contained pesticide residues. Among vegetables, celery had the highest pesticide residue levels, making it no exaggeration to call apples and celery the "dirtiest fruits and vegetables." Taiwan's Council of Agriculture statistics show that last year, Taiwan imported approximately 40,000 metric tons of apples from the US, ranking second in import volume. However, from January to May this year, Taiwan imported nearly 29,000 metric tons from the US, jumping to first place. Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration stated that in 2009, US apples were repeatedly found to contain the pesticide "amphetamine" at customs. Taiwan revised its pesticide residue safety limits to 0.5 ppm, and in the past two years, cases of US apples failing pesticide residue standards have become rare. Conversely, South Korean apples have repeatedly violated Taiwan's pesticide residue regulations in the past two years, leading to a 100% customs border inspection rate. The Environmental Task Force (ETF), a U.S. nonprofit consumer protection organization, published its "2011 Pesticide Residue Guidelines" based on inspections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The guidelines listed the "12 Dirtiest Fruits and Vegetables," with strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported grapes, bell peppers, potatoes, local blueberries, lettuce, and cabbage following in that order after apples and celery. Vegetables with the fewest pesticide residues included onions, corn, pineapples, avocados, and asparagus. The ETF stated that consuming five servings from the "12 Dirtiest Fruits and Vegetables" daily would result in an average daily intake of 14 different pesticides; conversely, consuming five servings from a list of 15 clean fruits and vegetables would likely result in an average daily intake of less than two different pesticides.

The implementation of a carbon tax is imperative, and the Australian government hopes to pass legislation for its implementation by July next year. This symposium, hosted by the Business Council of Australia (BCA), initially proposed a carbon tax of US$10 per tonne, lower than the US$20-30 price range. A major Australian business summit indicated that US$10 per tonne is reasonable and they are willing to cooperate with this government measure. Implementing a carbon tax would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote investment in clean energy. — Reference: ABC News

Plasticizers are present in everything we eat, use, drink, and even dust in our daily lives. What should people do? The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced today that it will increase the intensity of plasticizer regulation within one to three months. Regarding waste management, to prevent dioxin release, it has been announced that PVC and PVDC materials will be banned from household products such as cling film starting January 1, 2013. As the plasticizer crisis continues to spread, the EPA states that the best way to avoid it is to "reduce plastic." People should avoid using plastic bags and similar products when handling food. Originally classified as a Category IV toxic chemical substance, the EPA stated that domestic regulation is in line with that of Europe, the United States, Japan, and Canada. However, a meeting yesterday decided to upgrade plasticizers to Category I, using a positive list approach. All other known phthalates will be included in Category IV. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday decided to reclassify DEHP and DBP from Category IV to Category I and II toxic chemicals; DMP from Category IV to Category I toxic chemicals; and newly announced BBP as Category I and II toxic chemicals; DINP, DIDP, and DEP as Category I toxic chemicals. All phthalates other than the above seven and DNOP (a total of eight) are now classified as Category IV toxic chemicals. The EPA expects to issue the announcement within a week and implement the regulations after completing the procedures within one to three months. EPA Director-General Shen Shih-hung stated that the management of plasticizers will be strengthened in the future. Regarding the destruction of seized products, six wastewater treatment plants in northern, central, and southern Taiwan have been selected to centrally treat the liquid portion, while the solid portion will be sent for incineration.