Singapore Singapore adds substances subject to CWC into EPMA and FSA

Singapore Chemical Substances (Products) Industrial Chemicals
14 March 2023  HIROSE Nao  HIROSE Nao (EnviX, Ltd.)
Singapore adds substances subject to CWC into EPMA and FSA

In Singapore, on 17 February 2023, the following four acts were promulgated to regulate substances subject to the Chemical Weapons Convention under the Environmental Protection and Management Act and the Fire Safety Act. As a result, 26 new substances are subject to the Environmental Protection and Management Act and the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, and 12 substances are subject to the Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) Regulations. These substances have traditionally been regulated by Singapore Customs under the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act and its subordinate rules, the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Regulations, which are the domestic laws of the Chemical Weapons Convention, but they have now been further regulated under the Environmental Protection and Management Act and the Fire Safety Act in order to strengthen the management of national security and handling risks, to ensure human health and safety, and to protect the environment. These laws will enter into force on August 21, 2023.

 

The laws can be downloaded from the following URL:

 

Specific substances subject to the new regulations and exemption thresholds are shown in Annex A of the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) circular below. It should be noted that the original text of the laws and regulations and the following documents do not contain the CAS registration numbers.
https://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/joint-regulatory-control-of-scheduled-chemical-weapons-convention-(cwc)-chemicals0bdcebfb2cd14fe0b28aa1eefd3f3039.pdf

 

For these substances, if the predetermined exemption threshold is exceeded, it is necessary to obtain a license, etc. as follows. Applications will be accepted from March 1, 2023.

  • Import, Export, Manufacture, Sale and Transport of Controlled Substances under the Environmental Protection and Management Act – Hazardous Substances (HS) License
  • Purchase, Storage and Use of Controlled Substances under the Environmental Protection and Management Act – HS Permit
  • Transport of Controlled Substances under the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations – HS Transport Approval
  • Import, Storage, Transport and Pipeline Transport of Controlled Substances under the Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) Regulations – Petroleum and Flammable Materials (P&FM) License

 

Regarding the acquisition of licenses for substances subject to the Chemical Weapons Convention based on the Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) Regulations, the import of substances subject to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the transportation of chemical substances and multiple combustible substances listed in Table I of the Annex of Chemical Substances to the Chemical Weapons Convention are not eligible for exemptions in the quantities specified in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. The following exemptions do not apply to the storage of substances subject to the Chemical Weapons Convention:

  • Exemption from obtaining a storage license if the flammable material is contained in a specified product (11 products, such as adhesives, lacquer solvents, lubricants, paints, varnishes, etc.).
  • Exemption from obtaining a storage license for mixtures with a flash point of more than 60°C.

 

Applications for licenses can be made through the following websites:

 

In addition to obtaining a license, etc., the business operator must also comply with other requirements stipulated in each law and regulation.

 

The Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) Regulations have also been revised and a number of requirements have been added, such as the obligations to hold a transport license for substances subject to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the maximum load weight at the time of transport.

Author / Responsibility

HIROSE Nao

Researcher, Research & Consulting Dept. EnviX Ltd.

Business Performance

In charge of Southeast Asia for managing information on the environmental regulations.

Background

BA, Human Life and Environmental Sciences, Ochanomizu University

HIROSE Nao