In the conference, experts from different countries shared their future plans and implementation experiences with national and international chemical management. The topics discussed included: the EU’s current status and future plans of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH); the current chemical management situation in Vietnam; Korea’s chemical management system; and, the amendments and plans of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in the US. The TCSB also took the opportunity to discuss management policies and the future outlook for chemical management in Taiwan, and also exchanged opinions and learned from other experts.

The EPA states that careful assessment of the impact of chemical substances on human health, the environment, society and economy, and carefully managing such substances is the common goal of the international community. Therefore, in order to improve the management of chemicals throughout their life cycles, the TCSB has developed a vision for building a sustainable and safe chemical environment. By referring to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), it set nine indicators as a part of the development strategy for chemical management. The experience gained from this conference will be very beneficial to future policy making.

News Briefs

Views on Strategic EIA for Establishing New Science Parks Collected

The second task force consultation meeting of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Statements on Establishment and Expansion of Science Parks was held on 8 November 2017. In the meeting, the discussion among the EIA review committee and civic groups revolved around the promotion idea that has been modified and proposed by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The main focus of the proposal is “not to exceed the EIA-approved total emissions of the existing science parks, and the local government of the proposed new or expanded science park will be responsible for the emission reduction when there is any excess of the emission cap. However, the task force, based on the opinions of the EIA committee, considered this idea insufficient and lacking in applicable practical actions. Therefore, it was recommended that before the third consultation meeting is held, the Ministry of Science and Technology should improve the idea in consideration with the development plans of the science parks, and the total amount of land the parks will need.

As for the air quality improvement issues that the public is concerned about, the EIA committee suggested that the Ministry of Science and Technology modify the concept by referring to the Offset Principles for Air Pollutant Emissions Produced in Developmental Activities and the review principles for the expansion of the Sixth Naphtha Cracking Plant Complex. The EPA also recommended that the Ministry of Science and Technology use the offset ratio of 1 to 1.2 in order to gradually improve air quality in Class 3 control zones.

Regulations on Review Management of Industrial Waste Disposal Plan Announced

On 16 November 2017 , the EPA announced the Regulations Governing the Review of Industrial Waste Disposal Plans ( 事業廢棄物清理計畫書審查管理辦法 ), which will go into effect on 1 July 2018. The announced regulations are formulated in response to the amendments to the Waste Disposal Act ( 廢棄物清理法 ) of 18 January 2017, which have significantly increased an enterprise’s responsibility to manage the disposal of the waste it produces. The said responsibilities most importantly include making proposed plans that detail operations data, the amount of industrial waste produced, and how the waste will be disposed of. The EPA drafted the Regulations Governing the Review of Industrial Waste Clearance and Disposal Plans to strengthen the legal basis for industrial waste disposal plans and improve the regulatory system. Details were added for expiration dates, revocations and cancellations of plans. By clarifying the regulations, the EPA has improved the administration of waste producing enterprises by creating more uniformity and efficiency in local government review processes, while also providing more comprehensive management rules on the waste products of enterprises.

Over 2,000Environmental Volunteers Gather in Taitung to Take on Environmental Puzzle Challenges 

On 12 November 2017, the EPA and the Taitung County Government held the 2017 National Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Meeting at Taitung County Stadium. Vice President Chen Chien-Jen, EPA Deputy Minister Thomas Chan, and Taitung Magistrate Justin Huang all personally attended the event to provide opening remarks for the event and cheer on participants. Over 2,000 volunteers from Taiwan’s 22 cities and counties were selected as winners from the first round of contests held in their respective areas. Participants gave their all as they competed for their district in an exciting contest that tested their environmental knowledge.

From this year onward, the National Environmental Volunteer Meeting will be held annually on the second Saturday of November. It will give volunteers an opportunity to learn more about the environment and will provide a platform for participants and teams to interact, learn together and grow in cohesiveness. This year, the contest comprised four events that combined elements of environmental knowledge, entertainment, and team building. There was also an environmental Q&A to provide an exciting way to learn and interact.