On February 3, 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) released its strategic plan for 2025-2027 and a detailed work plan for 2025, marking the second phase of its 2024-2028 strategy. The guiding principle of "Promoting Chemical Safety through Science, Collaboration, and Knowledge" will persist, with a 19.5% increase in EU REACH Registration fees expected from April 1, 2025.

On February 9, 2025, the second round of registration under the Chilean REACH system officially commenced.

On December 25, 2024, the Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Technology Center released the "Frequently Asked Questions Series IX on Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances," focusing on addressing questions related to the registration of polymers. CIRS Group provides some examples and suggestions for distinguishing cases involving the exclusion of cationic polymers and degradable or unstable polymers.

Recently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan issued an important notice under the Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act, requiring relevant enterprises to submit reports by September 30, 2024, on the estimated production, extraction, refining, and use of designated substances in 2025. It aims to comply with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which was established in 1992 and ratified in 1995. Japan has been steadily implementing the obligations, including reporting and accepting international inspections.

Taiwan's Ministry of Labor (MOL) released a draft amendment of Regulations for Governing Designating and Handling of Priority Management Chemicals.

On December 18, 2023, China's Ministry of Ecological Environment (MEE) announced the addition of a batch of 25 registered substances that fulfill the requirements of existing substances into the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC). CIRS warmly reminds you that related enterprises must make sure whether their substances are existing substances. The Provisions on Environmental Administration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12) require enterprises to complete new substance registration/record before manufacturing or importing, or they may face various punishments.

On November 7, 2023, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the 15th batch of simplified registration certificates for new chemical substances in 2023. In accordance with the Measures for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”), China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has approved a total of 13 simplified registrations of new chemical substances after review, and all these applications have met relevant requirements for simplified registrations.

On November 7, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of China published the 7th batch of regular registrations for new chemical substances in 2023 in accordance with the Open Government Information Regulation of the People's Republic of China (Order No.711 of the State Council).

On October 11, 2023, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the 13th batch of simplified registrations for new chemical substances in 2023. In accordance with the Measures for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12), the MEE has approved a total of nine simplified registration applications of new chemical substances after review, and all these applications meet relevant requirements and are approved to conduct simplified registrations.

On September 26, 2023, the Commission on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship (CCJC) in Brazil published PL 6120/2019. Eariler on May 9, 2023, CCJC approved the bill (PL 6120/2019) and has send it to the Federal Senate for further consideration. PL 6120/2019 proposes to set up a national chemical inventory as a national database to collect the information on chemicals imported or manufactured in Brazil with hazard characteristics. If PL 6120/2019 is approved, Brazil will be the fourth country in South America that have chemical management regulations, following Peru, Chile, and Colombia.