Philippines Chemical Inventory Information

The Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS) contains 22,509 chemical substances as of 2024. The Inventory was developed as mandated by Republic Act No. 6969. It is maintained under the regulatory framework of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and serves as a central tool for the management of chemicals in the Philippines. The cut-off date for inclusion in the Inventory was set at 1993, based on substances that were commercially available in the Philippine market prior to that year. The Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS) is a comprehensive list of chemical substances used, sold, distributed, imported, processed, manufactured, stored, exported, treated, or transported in the Philippines. The PICCS is updated annually to include all new chemicals that have been issued non-confidential PMPIN Clearance Certificates. 

The main purpose of PICCS is to facilitate the handling of chemicals in the Philippines.  It allows manufacturers and importers to proceed without notification or authorization from the DENR-EMB for substances already listed. However, this applies only if the substances are not included in the Priority Chemical List (PCL) or subject to Chemical Control Orders (CCO). 

Managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), PICCS requires the Pre-Manufacture and Pre-Importation Notification (PMPIN) process for chemicals not listed in the inventory, referred to as new chemicals. There are two types of PMPIN notification forms: 

• PMPIN Abbreviated Form: This is used when a new chemical to be manufactured or imported is already in use in countries such as the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan or Korea, with a developed and/or similar chemical review process to the Philippines. The notifier must submit sufficient information to clearly demonstrate that the chemical will not pose an unreasonable risk. 

• PMPIN Detailed Form: This is required for substances that are completely "new to the world". In this case, complete information must be submitted prior to import or manufacture, including actual test results on physicochemical properties, toxicological data, and environmental effects. 

This dual system approach allows the Philippines to streamline the notification process for chemicals that have undergone rigorous review in other jurisdictions, while ensuring that completely new chemicals are thoroughly assessed to protect human health and the environment. 

• Listed Substances: Approved for use with simplified compliance obligations, including submission of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and labelling according to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. 

• Unlisted Substances: Require Pre-Manufacture and Pre-Importation Notification (PMPIN), which includes submission of hazard data and evaluation by the DENR. This process can delay market entry and increase regulatory costs. 

• New Substances: The PICCS facilitates the safe use of chemicals while enforcing rigorous assessments for new chemical introductions. 

The PICCS promotes the safe management of existing substances while ensuring that new substances undergo thorough evaluation. This framework encourages the use of known, well-regulated chemicals and provides robust mechanisms to address the risks associated with the introduction of new chemicals. 

PICCS also maintains a public list of chemicals, while allowing companies to claim confidentiality during the Pre-Manufacture and Pre-Importation Notification (PMPIN) process. The DENR evaluates these claims to ensure that they are justified and do not compromise the effectiveness of the regulatory system.