Taiwan Ministry of Environment Adds Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus, UV-328 to Toxic Chemical Substances List 
On April 27, 2026, the Taiwan Ministry of Environment (MOE) officially announced amendments to the Regulated Toxic Chemical Substances and the Management of Their Handling. These amendments will take effect on July 1, 2026. Under this update, Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus, and UV-328 have been added to the list of toxic chemical substances. Additionally, the amendments revise the “prohibited handling activities” and “permitted uses” for Mercury and Tetrachloroethylene. Relevant enterprises should note that the compliance deadlines for various requirements differ from those specified in the draft amendment published in November 2025.
Summary of Amendments
Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus, and UV-328 have been added to Appendix 1 (“List of Toxic Chemical Substances”) of the announcement, with corresponding regulatory concentrations and other related items established. The following is an excerpt from Appendix 1:
| Control No. | Substance Name | CAS Registry No. | Regulated Concentration (w/w %) *1 | Graded Handling Quantity (kg) *2 | Toxicity Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 005-02 | Methoxychlor | 72-43-5, 30667-99-3, 76733-77-2, 255065-25-9, 255065-26-0, 59424-81-6, 1348358-72-4 |
0.1 | 50 | 1, 3, 4 |
| 196-01 | Dechlorane Plus | 13560-89-9, 135821-03-3, 135821-74-8 |
0.1 | 50 | 1, 4 |
| 197-01 | UV-328 | 25973-55-1 | All concentrations *3 | 50 | 1, 4 |
*1 Substances at or above this concentration are considered toxic chemical substances.
*2 For quantities below this amount, only an application for an authorization document is required. Exceeding this amount requires compliance with other relevant regulations.
*3 The substance is exempt from regulation if the concentration of “UV-328” in the substance or mixture meets the following requirements and has not been intentionally added:
(1) Until August 31, 2027: Concentration of 10 mg/kg or less.
(2) Until August 31, 2029: Concentration of 1 mg/kg or less.
Prohibited Handling Activities
Appendix 2 specifies the “prohibited handling activities” for Methoxychlor and Dechlorane Plus as follows: “Manufacturing, importing, selling, and use are prohibited. However, this does not apply to research, testing, or educational purposes.”
For UV-328, the regulation states: “Manufacturing, importing, selling, and use are prohibited, except where otherwise specified in Appendix 3 (Permitted Uses).” Furthermore, this announcement revises the prohibited activities for Mercury and Tetrachloroethylene (notably, “cleaning agents” have been added to the prohibited uses for Tetrachloroethylene).
Permitted Uses
Appendix 3 defines the “permitted uses” for Methoxychlor and Dechlorane Plus as “research, testing, and education.” The permitted uses for UV-328 are specified as follows:
- Research, testing, and education.
- Until February 26, 2030, it may be used in the manufacture of the following:
- Automotive parts for new vehicle assembly.
- Industrial coatings for vehicles, construction machinery, and rail transit vehicles; and heavy-duty anti-corrosion coatings for large steel structures.
- Mechanical separators in blood collection tubes.
- Triacetyl cellulose (TAC) film in polarizers.
- Photographic paper.
- Until December 31, 2043, it may be used in the manufacture of the following replacement parts:
- Repair of vehicles.
- Stationary industrial machinery for agriculture, forestry, and construction (e.g., tower cranes, concrete plants, hydraulic crushers, etc.).
- Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) for analytical, measurement, control, monitoring, testing, production, and inspection instruments (e.g., recorders, infrared thermometers, digital storage oscilloscopes, radiographic detectors, etc., excluding medical applications).
- Until December 31, 2030, it may be used in the manufacture of aircraft insulation sheets and deck sealing tapes. It may also be used in polyurethane-based adhesives, polyamide-based adhesives, and polyurethane coatings for aircraft structures, machinery, interiors, electrical assemblies, emergency systems, propulsion systems, environmental control systems, and flight control systems.
Additionally, the permitted uses for Mercury and Tetrachloroethylene have also been revised (please refer to Appendix 3 of the original text for details).
Items to Be Completed Within Deadlines
Appendix 4 lists the items that must be completed by specified deadlines when handling Methoxychlor, Dechlorane Plus, and UV-328. For example, the labeling of containers and packaging and the preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be completed by July 1, 2027. Permits must be obtained by January 1, 2028. For other requirements, please refer to Appendix 4 of the original text.
Reference Information
- About the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act (TCCSCA): Established to prevent environmental pollution and harm to human health caused by toxic and concerned chemical substances, this Act sets forth regulations for handling substances designated by public notice. Regulated “handling” activities include manufacturing, importing, exporting, selling, transporting, using, storing, and disposing. The Act mandates requirements for permits, registration, authorization, and SDS.
- Regarding Articles: While neither the TCCSCA nor its subordinate regulations explicitly state whether “articles” are subject to regulation, it is generally understood that the Act applies to chemical substances and that finished articles are exempt. Furthermore, if a substance is regulated under other laws (such as the Commodity Inspection Act or the Pesticides Management Act), those laws take precedence, and the TCCSCA does not apply.
The original text of the amendment announcement can be accessed at the following URL (Traditional Chinese):
https://oaout.moenv.gov.tw/law/LawContent.aspx?id=GL006016
