About Chemicals Policy

• U.S.
  • U.S. Federal
  • U.S. State
• Europe
  • Europe Current
  • Europe REACH
  • Member States
• Canada
• Other Americas
• Asia-Pacific
• Africa
• Global

• Chemicals & Chemistry
  • Chemical Hazards
  • Green Chemistry

• Alternatives Assessment

• News and Events

• LCSP Publications

• Other Links
  • Key Reports
  • Organizations

• Archive

Chemicals policy in the Asia-Pacific region

The Asia-Pacific region is large and diverse, and includes a number of rapidly-expanding economies, notably China and India.

Currently, the information on this page covers:

• Japan
• China
• Australia
• Singapore
• New Zealand

A report is also available of a regional consultation meeting on SAICM that took place in Spring 2005

• If you have other relevant information and links that could go on this page, please contact us.

Japan

Chemicals regulation in Japan is focused on the Chemical Substances Control Law, which was enacted in 1973 and has been amended a number of times since.

Further information on Japanese chemicals regulation is available from the following links:

• The Japanese Government's Chemicals Management web page
• A Japanese government web site explaining the Chemical Substances Control Law

The Japanese system is based on a division between new and existing chemicals, and focuses particular attention on those chemicals that are bioaccumulative and/or persistent:

• New chemicals that are persistent and bioaccumulative require a wider range of toxicity studies; those that are persistent but do not bioaccumulate must be evaluated for potential long-term toxicity.
• Persistent and bioaccumulative existing chemicals are designated as Type I monitoring substances; those that are persistent and toxic but not bioaccumulative are designated Type II or III. The regulator requires more information on the use of such chemicals, and may restrict production or use.

China

China has recently adopted new laws regulating chemicals use; like many current systems, they are focused on 'new chemicals', those chemicals not on a separate list of 'existing substances':

"Any chemical substance that is not listed in the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances manufactured or imported in China (hereinafter cited as “IECSC”) that is published by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) is a new chemical substance.

Prior to the manufacture or import of a new chemical substance ... one shall undergo new chemical substance notification registration, apply for and receive a Registration Certificate for the Environmental Management of New Chemical Substances". (Source: Guidelines for New Substance Notification)

The 2004 Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances Manufactured or Imported in China lists 43588 substances, and can be downloaded. This inventory should include the names of all substances manufactured in, or imported into China prior to 14th October 2003. Companies had until 30th December 2004 to enter their chemicals onto this list.

All chemicals not on the Existing Chemical Substances list are considered new chemicals, and a dossier including safety information must be submitted to the regulator. From 1st January 2005, companies using chemicals not in IECSC will be in breach of the law, with penalties including being banned from importing new chemicals for 3 years. (Source: Ciba Regulatory Bulletin).

Multinational companies have expressed concerns about China's regulatory system, including querying a requirement for some of the safety tests to be done in China. (Source: Chemical Regulation Reporter).

More information on the Chinese regulatory system is available at the web site of the Chemicals Registration Center of the State Environmental Protection Administration.

Australia

Australian chemicals regulation is known as the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, usually abbreviated to NICNAS. Like many other systems, the Australian NICNAS system has stricter controls for new chemicals, along with a method for examining priority existing chemicals.

In 2006 NICNAS released "Promoting Safer Chemical Use: Towards Better Regulation of Chemicals in Australia" which outlines 23 recommendations for better chemical management. Download the report here.

Also in 2006 Australia published "Precaution: Principles and Practice in Australian Environmental and Natural Resource Management." Download that report here.

A detailed handbook for notifiers is available from the NICNAS web site.

Singapore

The regulatory system in Singapore for hazardous substances is particularly focused on safe handling of chemicals, to avoid chemical accidents and releases of water pollutants. For more information see the Singapore government's hazardous substances control web site.

New Zealand

The New Zealand chemicals regulatory system is described in detail on the Government's Hazardous substances web site.

In 2006 New Zealand published a policy paper, "Environmental Risk Management in New Zealand – Is There Scope to Apply A More Generic Framework?" Download the report here.

Key features include:

• A New/Existing substances split, based on substances on the market prior to 2nd July 2002.
• A focus on substances with hazardous properties