Singapore Regulatory News

The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore is seeking feedback on proposed regulations regarding formaldehyde content in paints. The aim is to restrict the availability (both in retail stores ...

The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore is seeking feedback on proposed regulations regarding formaldehyde content in paints. The aim is to restrict the availability (both in retail stores and online) of formaldehyde-containing paints that are intended for indoor use. The consultation closes on 13 December 2023.

Formaldehyde (CAS No. 50-00-0)) is widely used in the manufacture of resins, as a disinfectant, or as a preservative in building materials. It is added to paints to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause adverse health effects.

The following controls have been proposed by NEA:

• Only indoor paints without added formaldehyde will be allowed to be sold in Singapore (the measured formaldehyde content must be less than 0.01 % w/w).

• A Hazardous Substance (HS) licence will be required for companies manufacturing and/or importing indoor paints with added formaldehyde for export or re-export purposes.

• Labelling requirements will be imposed on industrial paints and outdoor paints containing formaldehyde.

The proposed controls are expected to take effect from 1 July 2025 to allow industry time to prepare.

On 24 July 2023, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) announced that the listings for four substances (dechlorane plus, methoxychlor, UV-328, and terbufos) will be changed due to the decisi...

On 24 July 2023, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) announced that the listings for four substances (dechlorane plus, methoxychlor, UV-328, and terbufos) will be changed due to the decision at the 11^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (COP11). Currently the four substances are regulated under the Hazardous Substances under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations

COP11 meeting

At the 11^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (COP11) in May 2023 it was decided to add dechlorane plus, methoxychlor and UV-328 to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).  Annex A lists the chemicals for which Parties must take action to eliminate their production and use. Details about the three substances can be found here.

It was furthermore decided to list Terbufos in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. Annex III lists the chemicals that are subject to the prior informed consent (PIC) procedure. Terbufos is a soil insecticide used commonly on sorghum, maize, beet and potatoes and is known to pose a high to extremely high risk to aquatic organisms, birds, and small mammals due to its toxicity.

Timeline

22 October 2023: From this date the import and export of Terbufos will be subject to the PIC procedure of the Rotterdam Convention. This means that prior approval must be obtained from the Chemical Control and Management Department (CCMD) for every export of the chemical. Furthermore, the CCMD must be notified at least one month prior to the expected date of export.

12 May 2024: The manufacture, import, and export of dechlorane plus, methoxychlor, and UVA-328 as well as products containing these chemicals will not be allowed in Singapore. Companies with existing stock of the chemicals and/or their products imported before this date are allowed to deplete their stocks locally.

Singapore has recently updated its standards for chemical classifications, labelling, and safety data sheets (SDSs) to conform to the seventh version of the UN's Globally Harmonized System (GHS) o...

Singapore has recently updated its standards for chemical classifications, labelling, and safety data sheets (SDSs) to conform to the seventh version of the UN's Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of chemical classification and labelling. These updates, which took effect on February 6th, are mandatory for companies involved in the manufacture, import, supply, use, or handling of hazardous substances in Singapore.

They are outlined in Singapore Standard (SS) 586 and changes include:

-  increased labelling and training requirements,

-  the addition of a new appendix with guidance on labelling for small containers,

- alignment with GHS requirements for toxicity values,

- revised SDS requirements,

- the addition of a new appendix providing guidance on describing and determining the empirical data of a substance or mixture,

- an updated annex that permits the use of generic and masking names to safeguard confidential business information (CBI).

To read more about Singapore chemical regulation and news related to it, click here: https://www.gpcgateway.com/common/regulation/NDQ-/U2luZ2Fwb3Jl

Singapore proposes to regulate 12 new chemicals and chemical groups under the Fire Safety (Petroleum & Flammable Materials) Regulations (FS (P&FM) Regs). The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ha...

Singapore proposes to regulate 12 new chemicals and chemical groups under the Fire Safety (Petroleum & Flammable Materials) Regulations (FS (P&FM) Regs).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has identified 12 chemicals and chemical groups as chemicals and precursors under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which are currently regulated by Singapore Customs through the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act (CWPA) and the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Regulations. From July 2023, SCDF will also be regulating these 12 chemicals and chemical groups under the FS (P&FM) Regs, which will require companies to apply for a P&FM licence for the import, storage, transport or conveyance by pipeline of these chemicals. This will help minimize the domestic security and safety risks posed by these chemicals and serve the objective of safeguarding public health and safety.

Chemicals proposed:

In October 2022 the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore presented a list of 26 chemicals and chemical groups it proposes to control as hazardous substances under the Environmental Protectio...

In October 2022 the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore presented a list of 26 chemicals and chemical groups it proposes to control as hazardous substances under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (EPM(HS)) Regulations. Previously, these 26 substances have been regulated by Singapore Customs under the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act (CWPA) and Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Regulations (CWPR). However, the NEA intends to strengthen the regulatory controls over the import, export, manufacture, offer for sale, transport, purchase, storage and/or use of these chemicals to ensure that they are managed in an environmentally sound manner.

The presentation comes after a three-week public consultation that took place during summer 2022. The respondents were generally supportive of the proposed control of the 26 chemicals as hazardous substances. The NEA intends to announce the regulatory changes formally by December 2022 and the changes are expected to be implemented 6 months later by June 2023.

Stakeholders must possess a valid hazardous substance license or permit to perform the specified activities involving the chemicals proposed to be controlled by June 2023. The licenses and permits will be available from 1 January 2023. Companies that wish to import/export, store, use, and/or supply any hazardous substance controlled under the EPMA must apply for a Hazardous Substance License. Any person that wishes to purchase, store, and/or use any hazardous substance controlled under the EPMA must apply for a Hazardous Substance Permit.

The substances on the list include neurotoxins such as Sarin, Samon, Saxitoxin, and Ricin and other warfare agents such as lewisites but also substances with industrial usage. In order to balance the regulatory burden on the industry with the environmentally sound management of the hazardous substances, the NEA is presently examining the possibility to grant exemptions from regulatory controls when the substances are present in low concentrations or as impurities. Companies may submit data such as safety data sheets and analytical data relevant to the examination to the NEA.

The list of hazardous chemicals proposed to be controlled include some chemical groups such as lewisites and nitrogen mustards. It is therefore more than 26 distinct chemicals that will be controlled as hazardous substances. The NEA will provide a list of the chemicals and their CAS Registry numbers that belong to these groups. As the list will not be complete, companies may consult with the NEA if more information is needed.

During the month of September 2022, the National Environment Agency of Singapore has proposed regulations on hazardous substances on 2 different occasions. On 23 September 2022 the following three ...

During the month of September 2022, the National Environment Agency of Singapore has proposed regulations on hazardous substances on 2 different occasions.

On 23 September 2022 the following three substances/groups of substances were regulated as hazardous substances under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) (EPM(HS)) Regulations.

• decabrominated diphenyl ether (decaBDE)
• pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds
• perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds

Import and export of the compounds has been prohibited, except for specific uses allowed under the Stockholm Convention. From 22 October 2022 DecaBDE and PFOA were adopted into Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention. This signifies that the import and export for specific uses as allowed under the Stockholm Convention is now subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure of the Rotterdam Convention. Therefore, prior approval from the Chemical Control and Management Department (CCMD) must be obtained for every export of these chemicals and their products.

PFHxS (including its salts and PFHxS-related compounds) are listed in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention. The manufacture, import and export of PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds, as well as products containing these chemicals, will not be allowed in Singapore from 17 June 2023. Companies that have stocks of the chemicals and/or their products that were imported before 17 June 2023 are allowed to deplete their stocks locally.

On 26 September 2022, just three days after the previous announcement, the NEA publicized that another five chemicals will be controlled as hazardous chemicals under the EPMA and the EPM(HS) Regulations starting on 1 March 2023. The five chemicals are:

• Amitrole
• Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates
• Iprodione
• Dechlorane Plus
• UV-328

Of these five chemicals, Amitrole, nonylphenol/nonylphenol ethoxylates, and iprodione are listed under the Rotterdam Convention while dechlorane plus and UV-328 are listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

Companies that manufacture, import, export, or sell these compounds must require a Hazardous Substance License while end-users that purchase, store and use them must obtain a Hazardous Substances Permit. Traders are required to use the appropriate Harmonized System and Product Codes from 1 March 2023 when declaring their import and export. All applications will be processed and approved by the Chemical Control and Management Department (CCMD).

On the 10th of June 2022, Singapore published an addendum proposing the control of chemicals under review by multilateral environmental agreements. The notified measure is expected to enter into force...

On the 10^th of June 2022, Singapore published an addendum proposing the control of chemicals under review by multilateral environmental agreements. The notified measure is expected to enter into force by March 1, 2023.

In February 2022, the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore had notified WTO about their intention to control five new chemicals as Hazardous Substances (HS) and importers/manufacturers/distributors of the five chemicals and products containing the chemicals will have to apply for a HS licence/permit to import, sell, store, export, and use the chemicals.

These five chemicals are identified by the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions for review. The identification is as follows:   

These five substances are identified for their potential to cause harm to human health and the environment. The step taken by Singapore to control them is aimed at protecting the environment as well as preparing themselves for their obligation to the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention. The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) while the Rotterdam Convention is a global treaty for the international trade of specific hazardous chemicals.