CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

Singapore published ban on SCCPs

January 2018- Relevant for: Electrical & electronics, Hardlines, Softlines, Toys & children's products

Singapore published the ban on import, export and use of short-chained chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and products containing SCCPs on 29 December 2017. The new requirement was published as amendments under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA)¹/TUVSUD-DE/home/Global Build/Resource Centre/e-ssentials-newsletter/Consumer Products and Retail Essentials and Environmental Protection and Management (EPM) (Hazardous Substances) Regulations ². This will apply from 30 June 2018.

The action was triggered by the addition of SCCPs to Annex A of the Stockholm Convention³. As Singapore⁴ is one of the countries which signed this International Convention, it has to establish legislation to control this substance. SCCPs has diversified applications. It can be used as plasticizers in rubber, adhesives and flame retardants in plastic. Moreover, it can be used as lubricants in metalworking and fat liquoring agents in leather processing. However, SCCPs is classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which poses hazards to human health and the environment. Hence, it is listed under the Stockholm Convention.

Referring to the amendment of EPMA⁵, SCCPs is listed under Part I of the Second Schedule as hazardous substances. No person can import, manufacture, possess for sale, sell or offer for sale any hazardous substance, its preparation or products containing it unless a license is granted. The general exemption can be granted if SCCPs is found in the products listed in Part II of the Second Schedule e.g. glue. However, the amendment specified the products which likely contain SCCPs cannot be exempted e.g. plastic, paints, lubricants and adhesive. SCCPs is included under the Schedule of EPM (Hazardous Substances) Regulations⁶. The import, transportation, storage and supply of SCCPs require permission. It is worthy to note that control of POPs requires International co-operation. Singapore is not the only party which adopted measures on SCCPs. Other countries e.g. the European Union and Switzerland already established corresponding legislation.

[1] Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA)
[2] Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations
[3] Stockholm Convention
[4] Singapore National Environmental Agency, Singapore signed Stockholm Convention
[5] Amendment of EPMA, S 783/2017
[6] Amendment of EPM (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, S782/2017