Taiwan Drafts Amendments to Regulations for Labeling and SDS

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

Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced draft amendments to the Regulations for Labeling and Safety Data Sheets for Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances on July 21, 2022. 

The draft amendments refer to the EU Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP Regulation), and adopt the minimum dimensions for the label. The label should contain the hazard information clearly, but its size should not be smaller than the minimum dimensions shown below. 

Based on the size, shape, and material of the container or package, folding labels or hanging labels can be used. In this case, the size of the label is not restricted by the above minimum dimension requirements.

When the concentration of the toxic or concerned chemical substance is at or above the cut-off concentration determined by the National Standard CNS15030, the following information should be disclosed on the label:

• Product name
• Pictograms
• Hazardous ingredients: the Chinese and English names announced by the central competent authority, the CAS number, the words "toxic chemical substance" or "concerned chemical substance," and the weight percentage of the hazardous ingredient
• Signal word
• Hazard statements
• Precautionary statements
• Name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer, importer, or supplier

However, if the concentration of the toxic or concerned chemical substance is less than the cut-off concentration, the pictograms, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements can be omitted from labeling.

In addition, Guidelines on Regulated Toxic Chemical Substances and the Management of Their Handling and Categories and Management of Handling for Concerned Chemical Substances have special requirements on warnings or other supplementary information for the toxic and concerned chemical substances. For example, nitrous oxide is regulated as a concerned chemical substance and it has a special warning as "restricted to industrial use, no smoking". The label for nitrous oxide should contain this special warning.

There will be a one-year grace period given to the industry in order to let them update the labels accordingly before the regulations will be fully implemented.

The draft amendments are currently open to public comments until Aug, 22, 2022. Any comments or concerns can be sent to EPA via their email address: yiting.chao@epa.gov.tw. 

Recommended action items

• Check if your products contain any toxic or concerned chemical substance.
• Submit any comments or concerns you might have to Taiwan's EPA.
• Keep an eye out for the publication of the official amendments.

References

Draft Amendments to Regulations for Labeling and SDS for Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances 
Regulations for Labeling and SDS for Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances