First Product Catalogue of China WEEE Published

Beijing, China,
February 2011

Released by National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on September 17th 2010, and effective on November 1st, the Interim Measures on the Assessment and Review of Energy Conservation of Fixed Asset Investment Projects (Fixed Asset Conservation Measures) are designed to curb excessive energy consumption and increase the efficiency of energy use across China.

The Fixed Asset Conservation Measures require enterprises, governments, and government agencies contemplating an investment in fixed assets to conduct an energy assessment and energy efficiency review before applying for approval of the proposed investment. The measures also require NDRC offices to examine the energy conservation assessment reports before making decisions on proposed investments.

According to the measures, any project consuming more than 3,000 tons of standard coal per year must compile an energy-saving assessment report, any project consuming 1,000-3,000 tons of standard coal per year should submit an energy-saving assessment reporting form, and any other low energy consumption projects (consuming less than 1,000 tons standard coal per year) should submit an energy-saving registration form. The measures also contain provisions on its implementation, supervision and penalties.

China REACH
"Measures on the Environmental Management of New Chemicals" came into effect from 15th October, 2010. The New Chemical Measures are similar to EU REACH and thus is called "China REACH". Companies shall submit a new chemical substance notification to the Chemical Registration Centre (CRC) for the new chemicals irrespective of annual tonnage, i.e. chemicals other than the approximately 45,000 substances currently listed on the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances Produced or Imported in China (IECSC). The notification not only applies to a substance on its own, in preparation, or articles intended to be released, but also applies to new substances used as ingredients or intermediates for pharmaceuticals, pesticides, veterinary drugs, cosmetics, food additives and feed additives, etc. There are three types of notifications under China REACH:

Typical notification: New chemical substances to be manufactured or imported at or above the annual volume of 1 ton.
Simplified notification: New chemical substance with tonnage under 1 ton per year; For export only with tonnage under 1 ton per year; For scientific research with tonnage between 0.1 to 1 ton per year; For technological research with tonnage less than 10 ton per year; For polymers with all monomers already listed in IECSC or polymers containing less than 2% new chemicals weight by weight; and For low concern polymers.
Scientific research record: New chemical substances used for scientific research with an annual quantity less than 0.1 ton or if the sample is to be tested in laboratories in China.

First Product Catalogue of China WEEE Published
Management of Recycling and Disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products (so-called "China WEEE") came into effect from January 1st 2011. Five types of products (television, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, and computer) will be the first batch products under China WEEE.

Similar to the EU directive, the China WEEE imposes the responsibility for the disposal of waste electrical and electronic products on the manufacturers of such products. Those companies should establish an infrastructure for collecting WEEE and are requested to use the collected waste in an ecologically-friendly manner, either by ecological disposal or by reuse/refurbishment of the collected WEEE.

For further information contact Lu Fu, lfu@esdchina.com.cn