NEA’S RESPONSES TO COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED CONTROL OF 5 NEW CHEMICALS
1 The National Environment Agency (NEA) has concluded its public consultation on the proposed control of 5 chemicals under review by Multilateral Environmental Agreements . The 4-week consultation exercise was open for public comments from 30 Aug 2021 to 24 Sep 2021.
2 NEA received 6 responses from this consultation exercise. Overall, the respondents were supportive of the proposed control of the 5 new chemicals under the Second Schedule of the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Schedule of the EPM (HS) Regulation. Some provided feedback. NEA’s responses to the feedback are summarised in the table below.
3 NEA would like to thank all stakeholders who participated in the consultation exercise. We look forward to your active participation again in our future public consultation.
Introduction
The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore is seeking feedback on regulating 5 additional chemicals as hazardous substances (HS) under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and EPM (HS) Regulations. The consultation period will last 4 weeks from 30 Aug 2021 to 24 Sep 2021.
Background
2 The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (“Stockholm Convention”) and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure (“Rotterdam Convention”) are currently reviewing 5 additional chemicals for control under the Conventions. As a Party to these Conventions, Singapore will be obliged to restrict and/or eliminate the manufacture, trade and use of these chemicals once they are adopted for control under these Conventions. More information on the Conventions can be found at their websites1.
Complying with International Obligations
3 The 5 additional chemicals are listed below, with more details at Annex 1:
4 The obligations will come into effect between 9 months to a year from the date of adoption by Parties at the Conference of Parties (COP) to the Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention. Thus, the obligations for Parties to control the 5 additional chemicals, if the proposal is adopted at the 15th COP in Jun 2022, will take effect from 1 Mar 2023 at the earliest.
Licensing Control
5 NEA intends to implement control of the 5 chemicals by regulating them as HS under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and EPM (HS) Regulations to ensure that Singapore is able to comply with its new obligations to the Conventions upon Parties’ decision to include these chemicals for control. The licensing controls to be implemented in Singapore, tentatively by 1 Mar 2023, are as follows: -
(a) Companies that import/export, offer for sale, store, use or transport the regulated chemicals will be required to apply for a HS licence2 ; and
(b) Companies that purchase the regulated chemicals from local suppliers for own use and storage will be required to apply for a HS permit 3.
Public Consultation
6 This proposal is released for the purpose of consultation. All comments received during the consultation exercise will be reviewed and may be incorporated into the final measures. Parties wishing to provide feedback can submit their comments to lee_chee_siang@nea.gov.sg by 24 Sep 2021.
7 In order to ensure that the consultation is productive and focused, respondents are requested to adhere to the following guidelines when providing their feedback:
a. Identify yourself as well as the organisation you represent (if any) so that NEA may follow up with you to clarify on any issue where necessary;
b. Be clear and concise in your comments;
c. Focus your comments on the proposal and how it can be improved; and
d. Substantiate your points with illustrations, examples, data or alternative suggestions.
1 Stockholm Convention at http://www.pops.int and Rotterdam Convention at http://www.pic.int
2 https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/EPMA1999-RG3
3 https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/EPMA1999-RG4?DocDate=20110801&ProvIds=P1IV-