MEP Policies Target Chemical Control and Hazardous Waste Management
On December 29, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) released the List for Prioritized Control Chemicals (First Batch). Some of the content is aligned with the European Union’s Chemical Regulation Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
According to the “Policies and Measures for the Risk Management of Prioritized Control Chemicals” in the appendix, the government will manage harmful chemicals in three levels:
- Managed by pollutant discharge permits measures
- Restricted in use and encouraged to be alternative
- Implement with clean production audit and information disclosure system
On the same day, MEP also released the Hazardous Waste Transportation Management Measures (Draft for Comments) for comments, with a deadline of Jan 25. All hazardous waste substances listed in the China’s Hazardous Waste List (2016), are regulated by the measures. The measures are updated based on the Report Sheet Management Measures for Hazardous Waste (1999). Compared to the old version, the updated measures aim to clarify responsibilities and reduce the burden of compliance and reporting for companies. Most notable is the increase efficiency in the process for reporting. Article 21 of the draft mentions that only one report sheet is needed for recording purposes even if there are multiple types of chemicals and waste in the transportation type (by vehicle, ship or other means of transport)
