We are experts of EHS in Asia. Subscribe members edition.
Global
UNEP announced on September 2, 2026, the publication of its report Limiting Overshoot, which assesses that the rise in the global average temperature is on track to exceed 1.5°C. The …
Japan
On September 1, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW); Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); Ministry of the Environment (MOE); and other relevant ministries jointly launched …
Vietnam
On July 27, 2026, the Ministry of Justice published the Appraisal Dossier for the draft Law on Occupational Safety and Health (Amended) on its official portal for public consultation. Amending …
India
On July 17, 2026, India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released two guidance documents under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, covering the full battery waste management process: the “Guidelines …
Laos
On 4 August 2026, Laos’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued the “Decision No. 2523/MOIC.DOIC on the List of Industrial Chemicals” under the Law on Chemical Management No. 7/2016, which …
South Korea
On August 6, 2026, South Korea’s National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) issued an advance administrative notice of a proposed partial amendment to the Regulations on the Preparation, etc. of …
China
On August 6, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with five central government agencies including the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, …
Australia
On September 1, 2026, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) published the 2026 updated edition of the Industrial Chemicals Categorisation Guidelines. These guidelines serve as a technical document referenced …
Rooftop Solar Power Generation in the Philippines: Market Growth, Drivers, and Regulatory Developments
Philippines
Overview of Rooftop Solar PV Systems in the Philippines The Philippines has significant potential for rooftop solar power generation because of its high solar irradiation and high total building rooftop …
South Korea
On July 16, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) issued an advance administrative notice of a proposed partial amendment to the Public Notice on Waste Items …
Philippines
On June 30, 2026, the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued DENR Administrative Order No. 2026-33: Operationalizing the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Framework in the Philippines. …
China
On August 31, 2026, the Standardization Administration of China issued the voluntary national standard General Rules Evaluation of Easily Recyclable and Reusable Plastic Products Design (GB/T 48042-2026). The standard will …
Japan
On August 20, 2026, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency released the Environmental Label Fact‑Finding Report, which examines how businesses use environmental claims from the perspective of the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums …
On-site Insights: Workshop on Auditing and Verifying Recycling Results under EPR Mechanism in Vietnam
Vietnam
On August 3, 2026, Pacific Environment held a specialized workshop to present a proposed study on establishing criteria for the capabilities, content, and verification methods of independent auditors regarding recycling …
On-site Insights: Pathways for Robust EPR System in Vietnam
Vietnam
On August 11, 2026, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) in Vietnam and the Vietnam Circular Economy Hub (CE Hub), organized a workshop …
South Korea
South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) issued an advance legislative notice of proposed partial amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Clean Air Conservation …
Australia
On August 19, 2026, Australia established National Environmental Standards (NES) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Comprising four pillars— (1) Matters of National Environmental Significance …
South Korea
On August 10, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) published a preliminary administrative notice of a draft amendment to the Regulation on Standards for Product Packaging …
China
On August 1, 2026, the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA) officially published two implementation rules for China Compulsory Certification (CCC): Implementation Rules for China …
*Taiwan
On August 11, 2026, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs published draft amendments to the Inspection Regulations for Stationary Lithium Energy Storage …
Japan
On July 31, 2026, Japan promulgated the Act Partially Amending the Act on the Improvement of Energy Consumption Performance of Buildings (the amended Building Energy Efficiency Act). The amended Act …
South Korea
On July 29, 2026, South Korea’s National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) issued an advance administrative notice of a proposed amendment to the Regulations on Stipulated Quantities of Hazardous Chemicals …
Philippines
On July 31, 2026, the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued Department Order No. 259-26: Guidelines on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the Workplace. …
New Zealand
On August 21, 2026, New Zealand’s Minister of Transport announced that, following a review of the Clean Car Standard for imported new and used vehicles, the government would retain the …
South Korea
South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) issued an advance administrative notice of a new draft amendment to the Notice on Waste Items Subject to Import Restrictions to …
Thailand
On 17 August 2026, Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) under the Ministry of Industry opened a public consultation on the basic principles of a draft ministerial regulation that would require …
*Taiwan
On August 18, 2026, the Chemicals Administration of Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment (MOENV) announced three chemical substances for which “hazard assessment information” and “exposure assessment information” must be submitted by …
China
On August 4, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the substances added to the “Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances” on its official website.
Vietnam
On 26 June 2026, the Vietnamese Government issued the Decree No. 243/2026/NĐ-CP amending and supplementing Decree No. 57/2025/NĐ-CP, which sets out the mechanism for direct power purchase agreements (DPPA) between …
Bangladesh
On 13 August 2026, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published the “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines 2026 for Plastic Waste Management” in its Official Gazette under …
China
On August 5, 2026, China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) released the China Green Fuel Development Report (2026). This report marks China’s first comprehensive overview of the green fuel sector, systematically …
Singapore
On July 27, 2026, the Interim Sustainability Standards Committee (Interim SSC) of the Singapore Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) launched a public consultation on the Singapore Sustainability Disclosure Standards …
Global
Following the outcomes of the informal heads‑of‑delegation meeting held in Nairobi from June 30 to July 3, 2026, Julio Cordano of Chile, Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) tasked …
Thailand
On 19 August 2026, Thailand’s Office of the Public Sector Development Commission opened a public consultation on proposed principles for revising the treatment of the “waste generator” when a purchasing …
Vietnam
On June 17, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Decision No. 1428/QD-DCK on the promulgation of energy efficiency standards applicable to the Energy Labeling Program. The decision …
China
On July 24, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), together with 18 other central government agencies, released the 15th Five-Year Plan for Climate Change Response. The plan outlines …
Vietnam
On 14 May 2026, the Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Decision No. 1126/QD-BCT promulgating the Action Plan for the implementation of Directive No. 10/CT-TTg on strengthening electricity …
Australia
On August 17, 2026, the state of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, issued the NSW Data Centre Policy Framework and Guidelines (hereafter, “the Guidelines”). The Guidelines outline six principles for …
China
On July 28, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and six other central government agencies, jointly issued the …
Vietnam
On August 10, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) released the Prime Minister Decision No. 42/2026/QD-TTg establishing the list of sectors and facilities emitting greenhouse gases (GHG) that …
Malaysia
The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) of Malaysia published a policy titled National Energy Efficiency Policy and Action Plan 2026-2035 (NEEAP 2.0) on August 11, 2026. Replacing …
Vietnam
On May 18, 2026, the Government of Vietnam issued Resolution No. 66.18/2026/NQ-CP on decentralization, reduction, and simplification of administrative procedures and business conditions. Effective from July 1, 2026, to February …
Thailand
On 10 August 2026, Thailand’s Secretariat of the House of Representatives opened a public consultation on the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Bill (PRTR Bill) submitted by Member of Parliament …
China
To ensure the full and effective implementation of the Ecological Environment Code and to maintain logical consistency and harmony among rules within the environmental law system, China’s State Council issued …
Japan
On August 7, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) published “the Green Bond Guidelines and Sustainability‑Linked Bond Guidelines (2026 Edition)” and “the Green Loan and Sustainability‑Linked Loan Guidelines (2026 …
Singapore
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore reported on July 30, 2026, that a new Design Prototyping for Decarbonisation (DPfD) study indicates that the country’s target of improving energy …
Thailand
On 13 August 2026, the Thai government published the Prime Minister’s Office Regulation on the Data Center Business Policy Committee B.E. 2569 (2026) in the Government Gazette. The regulation took …
Vietnam
On 08 July 2026, the Department of Customs issued Official Letter No. 18623/CHQ-GSQL to the Regional Customs Sub-Department VIII (Quang Ninh) regarding the import of conditional chemicals. Accordingly, in response …
Philippines
The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) issued Department Circular (DC) No. 2026-08-0017, Policy Guidelines for Self-Generating Facility Zero-Export Solar Systems and Micro-Solar Systems for Own-Use, on August 5, 2026. The …
New Zealand
On June 2, 2026, New Zealand promulgated the Customs Import Prohibition (Nitrous Oxide) Order 2026, which took effect on June 5, 2026. The order establishes new requirements for businesses importing …
Vietnam
On May 27, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment published the full text of the Draft Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Environmental Protection Law and solicited …
Current Status of the Philippines’ EV Battery Recycling and Critical Minerals Strategy
Philippines
Global Demand for EV Batteries and the Philippine Overview Electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly important component of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security, and reduce …
Thailand
On 6 August 2026, Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works (DIW) under the Ministry of Industry released a draft Ministry of Industry notification on the promotion of factory businesses in the …
Vietnam
On June 30, 2026, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued Circular No. 36/2026/TT-BKHCN on the List of Products and Goods with Medium and High Risk Levels under the jurisdiction …
*Taiwan
On August 5, 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) announced amendments to the Fee Rates for Article Collection, Removal, and Treatment, which regulates recycling fees (collection, removal, and treatment fees) …
Vietnam
On 17 August 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Official Letter No. 6568/BCT-HC, which solicits comments on the draft decree amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. …
Vietnam
On July 28, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Official Letter No. 5883/BCT-HC, seeking comments on the Draft Decree amending Decree No. 24/2026/ND-CP stipulating the lists of chemicals …
Vietnam
On May 22, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City”s Department of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with the Vietnam Chemical Agency(Vinachemia), Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Area VII …
China
On July 22, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the national ecological environmental standard Technical requirements for construction and networking of video surveillance system for pollution source …
Japan
On July 30, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Finance (MOF), and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) promulgated and enforced the Ordinance Partially …
Vietnam
On June 10, 2026, the Vietnam Chemical Agency(Vinachemia), Ministry of Industry and Trade) presided over the “Conference on Guiding the Implementation of the 2025 Law on Chemicals and Subordinate Legislation …
Global
On July 29, 2026, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) announced that it will strengthen its collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and move toward integrating their respective corporate …
China
On July 31, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued an official announcement repealing 176 normative regulatory documents, including the Announcement on the Promulgation of the Administrative Measures …
Japan
On July 24, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry(METI), Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare(MHLW), and Ministry of the Environment(MOE) jointly deliberated revisions to the screening evaluation associated …
Philippines
Philippines’ President Ferdinand has signed the Executive Order (EO) No. 121: Providing for the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) Program on July 29 2026, which was enforced immediately after its …
South Korea
On July 15, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) announced proposed partial amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Clean Air Conservation Act. …
Japan
On July 31, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) released a revised edition of the Guidelines for Green Purchasing Initiatives for Local Governments and newly issued the Guidelines for …
Global
International discussions and institutional preparations are advancing toward the implementation of the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), a global framework for chemical management. In May 2024, the Organisation for Economic …
China
On July 6, 2026, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), together with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), released the 15th Five-Year Plan for Ecological Environmental Monitoring. The …
South Korea
On July 14, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) announced proposed amendments to the Public Notice on Standards for Average Energy Consumption Efficiency and Permissible Greenhouse …
Overview of India’s New Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026.
India
What is India’s New OSH rules 2026? The existing past 13 labour laws in India offered an unorganized way of compliance and created a lot of fragmentation in the system. …
Vietnam
On 19 May 2026, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment hereby issues Circular 22/2026/TT-BNNM, amending and supplementing certain circulars on the reduction, delegation of jurisdiction, and simplification of administrative procedures within …
Australia
The Australian Government announced on July 24, 2026, that it will discontinue the carbon neutral certification scheme administered through the Climate Active program. This decision reflects changes in policy direction, …
China
On July 6, 2026, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly released the 15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development.
The Hidden Pipeline – Illegal Waste Trafficking, Industrial Dumping, and the Regulatory Reform Thailand Urgently Needs
Thailand
On July 31, 2026, a 22-wheel truck was caught mid-operation dumping industrial waste into a private laterite pit in Sa Kaeo province. It was not an isolated incident. It was …
Japan
On July 31, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment released the Guidelines for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), aimed at addressing social challenges by leveraging natural capital. Japan has already committed to …
Vietnam
On 30 June 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular No. 33/2026/TT-BCT on the List of products and goods classified as medium-risk and high-risk falling under the state …
South Korea
South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) issued a preliminary administrative notice on June 26, 2026, regarding a proposed partial amendment to the Eco-label Target Products and Certification …
Vietnam
On July 9, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, through the website of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced and sought public comments on the Draft Decree amending …
China
On July 22, 2026, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the National Zero-Carbon Factory Construction Plan. Formulated to support China’s broader carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals …
South Korea
On June 22, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) issued an administrative notice of a proposed amendment to the Standards for Labeling Packaging Material and Structure …
South Korea
On June 30, 2026, the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS), an agency operating under South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE), promulgated and brought into force industry-specific …
Singapore
On July 31, 2026, Singapore promulgated two legislative instruments related to the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. Under the new framework, notifications that had …
South Korea
On June 28, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) announced that, effective July 1, 2026, it would prohibit the sale and distribution of unapproved biocidal products …
China
On July 13, 2026, administrative agencies including China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the National Development and Reform Commission released the “15th Five-Year Plan for Soil, Groundwater, and Agriculture-Rural …
Indonesia
Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment issued and enforced the “Ministry of Environment Regulation No. 6/2026 on Supervision and Administrative Sanctions in the Environmental Sector” on June 15, 2026, replacing the previous …
South Korea
On July 15, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) issued a preliminary administrative notice on a proposed partial amendment to the Guidelines on the Application and …
Vietnam
On 25 May 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) issued Circular No. 24/2026/TT-BNNMT, providing detailed guidance for the implementation of selected provisions of Decree No. 110/2026/ND-CP, which elaborates …
*Taiwan
On July 20, 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment published draft amendments to the “Regulated Concerned Chemical Substances and Their Operational Management Matters.” The proposal announces the planned addition of six …
South Korea
On June 25, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with six used-battery recycling companies and the Korea Environment Corporation to …
Australia
On July 30, 2026, Safe Work Australia (SWA) published “Guide for PCBUs: Air monitoring and the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants.” SWA provided this guidance in response to the …
China promotes the use of green energy
China
During 2025–2026, China intensively introduced a series of major policies centered on renewable electricity consumption and green energy usage. These policies cover key areas such as market-oriented electricity price reforms, …
Vietnam
On 29 April 2026, the Government issued Resolution No. 17/2026/NQ-CP on the reduction, decentralization, and simplification of administrative procedures and the reduction and simplification of business conditions under the management …
China
On July 8, 2026, China’s Ministry of Finance, State Taxation Administration, and Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued the “Measures for the Implementation of the Pilot Project on Levying …
India
On 8 July 2026, India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways notified the “Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form) Rules, 2026” under …
Global
The Second Global Nature Positive Summit was held in Kumamoto City over two days, July 14 and 15, 2026. Organized by the Nature Positive Initiative and the Japan Committee for the …
India
On July 13, 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, issued a notification amending the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 …
Global
On July 14 and 15, 2026, the Second Global Nature Positive Summit was held in Kumamoto City, Japan. Organized by the Nature Positive Initiative (NPI) and the Japan Committee for …
*Taiwan
On July 6, 2026, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment promulgated the amended public notice titled “Scope, Facility Installation, Standards, and Other Compliance Matters for Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sellers Required to …
Global
The Second Global Nature Positive Summit was held in Kumamoto City over two days, July 14 and 15, 2026. Organized by the Nature Positive Initiative and the Japan Committee for the …
China (1,147) South Korea (353) *Taiwan (257) Japan (113)
*Hong Kong (27) Vietnam (386) Thailand (242) Philippines (182) Singapore (152) Malaysia (142) Indonesia (130) Laos (15)
Brunei (8)
Myanmar (8)
Cambodia (2)
Saudi Arabia (6)
Oman (2) Australia (79) New Zealand (27)
