Taiwan Bans Two Chemicals from Use in Environmental Agents

By Xunyao Fu, PhD., senior regulatory specialist, Supply Chain team, UL Solutions 

Chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl are traditional organophosphorus pesticides that achieve control effects by affecting the nerve conduction of vectors and pests. However, long-term exposure to the environment where chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl are used might cause human health risks to some sensitive groups (such as infants, children and pregnant women). In response to the international trend of strengthening the management of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, and in order to maintain human health and protect the living environment, Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) issued amendments to the Measures on the Prohibitions on Chemical Ingredients in Environmental Agents and Methods for Their Detection to prohibit the use of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl in environmental agents.  

According to the Environmental Agents Control Act, "Environmental agents" are defined as chemical agents or microbial preparations used for environmental sanitation and pollution control. 

In the amendments, chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl are regulated as ingredients prohibited from being contained in the manufacture, processing, import, export, sale or use of environmental agents. However, the use of chlorpyrifos for emergency prevention and control of public health is not subject to prohibition.

In addition, since chlorpyrifos is currently an active ingredient in registered environmental agents, it will be phased out by the following schedule:

1. From Aug. 1, 2022, the manufacture, processing and import of chlorpyrifos as a technical grade environmental agent is prohibited.
2. From Jan. 1, 2023, the manufacture, processing and import of general and restricted use environmental agents containing chlorpyrifos is prohibited.
3. From April 1, 2024, the export, sale and use of general and restricted use environmental agents containing chlorpyrifos that are manufactured, processed or imported before Jan. 1, 2023, is prohibited.

(Note: the definition of “technical grade environmental agents,” “general use environmental agents” and “restricted use environmental agents” can be found in Article 5 of the Environmental Agents Control Act.)

The amended Measures on the Prohibitions on Chemical Ingredients in Environmental Agents and Methods for Their Detection were issued on July 29, 2022, and came into force upon publication.

Recommended action items

• Check if your environmental agents contain chlorpyrifos or chlorpyrifos-methyl.
• Substitute chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl with other permitted ingredients.

References 

• Amendments to Measures on the Prohibitions on Chemical Ingredients in Environmental Agents and Methods for Their Detection
• Measures on the Prohibitions on Chemical Ingredients in Environmental Agents and Methods for Their Detection
• Environmental Agents Control Act