the Asian Helsinki Chemicals Forum and the 4th Summit Meeting on Chemical Regulations in Asia Pacific (HCF&SMCR2019) was successfully held in Shanghai October 24-15, 2019. It was jointly hosted by Chemical Inspection and Regulation Service Limited and Helsinki Chemicals Forum (HCF).
During the conference officials and experts from the following government bodies and organisations gave presentations:
- European Chemicals Agency (Echa);
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD);
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP);
- Department of Commodity Inspection under the General Administration of Customs;
- China Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Center under Ministry of Environment and Ecology;
- Institute of Highway Science under the Ministry of Transport, Shanghai Customs;
- Thailand Pollution Control Agency;
- Eurometaux;
- AICMl;
- Singapore Chemical Industry Council;
- Korea Chemicals Management Association;
- Sahtech;
- Alliance to End Plastic Waste;
- IPEN;
- Only Representative Organization;
- SETAC Asia, and Risk & Policy Analysts;
- Shenzhen Zero Waste; and
- Dow Chemical (China).
Delegates from more than 100 companies attended the conference, including P&G, Arkema, Shell, Johnson and Johnson, Michelin, BASF, Honeywell, Dow, Bayer, Evonik, 3E Company, Royal DSM, Intertek, and the Nickel Institute.
During the conference, Mr. Dancet and Mr. Lim gave the opening speech. They believe that with Asia being the chemical market with the most potential globally, China has become the key country for chemical manufacturing and trading. The Asian HCF is a shorter version of the 2019 HCF, which took place in Helsinki on May 23-24, with high-level keynote speeches and open debate among speakers and the public on hot topics in chemical regulation globally. Three topics from the five presented in Helsinki were chosen as they were equally relevant to Asia. The composition of the panels and the audience was different so that the content and conclusions would be suitable and unique to the Asian context.
Organizers, Sponsors, and Supporters
Speakers
Topics
Panel 1: How to measure the performance of different chemical management systems
What are meaningful indicators to measure success? Do different stakeholders measure success differently? What needs to be measured over time? What is the cost of action or inaction? How to assess the value for money of the different regulatory systems?
Moderator: Eeva Leinala, Principal Administrator, OECD
Panel 2: Plastics and circularity – from pollution to a value-based proposition for all
There are many facts to the plastics agenda and it goes well beyond the plastic pollution in oceans and rivers. Ultimately the marine plastics / litter issue is a result of the failure to adopt a circular approach to plastics use. Plastics have a chemical production, use pattern, and waste management issue. When the cycle fails plastics reach the sea and have the impact we now see. The focus of this panel was on plastic use and phase-out where possible (alternatives) at the national level coupled with education of the public and waste producers on sorting and segregation of plastics at the point of production. The panel also covered the future opportunity of collection, processing, and use of plastic waste as a secondary resource. This involves taking into account existing standards and encouraging countries to adopt and implement policies on waste collection at urban and industrial sites, coupled with providing incentives for industries to generate revenue from the waste. The discussion also touched on how new technologies can produce hydrocarbon plastic feedstock, which can re-enter the value chain.
Moderator: Tim Kasten, Deputy Director, Economy Division, UNEP
Panel 3: The quality of and access to data on chemicals
The amount of data available on chemical substances in commerce is continuously rising, even though the quality of the data is of varying (or unknown) quality. This rise creates challenges relating to competing demands for this data, from actors with competing interests (such as regulators, companies, downstream users, researchers, and consumers). It is also important to acknowledge that while the amount of data is constantly rising, data and information gaps still exist or are not acted upon. This situation also creates important challenges in handling that vast amount of data in terms of format/IT, reliability, analysis, and subsequent actions. How can we ensure that relevant actors have access to the data they need of the right quality and that this data is adequately acted upon to limit the environmental and human health impacts of substances on the market?
Moderator: Hugo Waeterschoot, advisor, Eurometaux
Interpretation of chemical relevant regulations
- Chemicals environment management in China – current situation and future outlook;
- Current situation and progress on hazardous chemicals supervision in China;
- Sustainable Development of Chemical Industry in China;
- Managing requirements and updates on chemical regulations in Southeast Asia;
- How to inspect Import & Export dangerous goods and their packages;
- Current status on ARECs (K-REACH);
- JT/T 617 Introduction to China Regulations Concerning Road Transportation of Dangerous Goods;
- Measures on registration of new and existing substances in Taiwan; and
- The obligation after registration of EU-REACH.
