Toxic and Concern Chemicals
Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act(2019-01-16)
Chapter 1 General Principles
Article 1
This Act is enacted to prevent toxic and concerned chemical substances from polluting the environment and endangering human health, and to manage all relevant information on domestic chemical substances to serve as a basis for the screening, selection and assessment of toxic and concerned chemical substances.
Article 2
The“Competent authority” as means in this Act refers to the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan, at the central government level, the municipal government in special municipalities and the county or city government in counties or cities.
Article 3
The Terms used in this Act are defined as follows.
I.“Toxic chemical substances” means those chemical substances that are intentionally produced by human activity or unintentionally derived from production processes and that have been officially announced by the central competent authority as having toxicity subject to the following classification regulations. Toxic chemical substances shall be classified as follows.
A.Class 1 toxic chemical substances: those chemical substances that are not prone to decompose in the environment or that pollute the environment or endanger human health due to bioaccumulation, bioconcentration or biotransformation.
B.Class 2 toxic chemical substances: those chemical substances that cause tumors, infertility, teratogenesis, genetic mutations or other chronic diseases.
C.Class 3 toxic chemical substances: those chemical substances that endanger human health or the lives of biological organisms immediately upon exposure.
D.Class 4 toxic chemical substances: those chemical substances that have endocrine disruptor properties, environmental pollutants or chemicals which endanger human health.
II. "Concerned chemical substances" refers to chemical substances aside from toxic chemical substances, that have been officially announced by the central competent authority to pollute the environment or are a suspected threat to human health based on substance characteristics or public consumer issues of domestic or foreign concern and are controlled by the central competent authority.
III.“Existing chemical substances” refers to those chemical substances that are listed in the chemical substance inventory issued by the central competent authority after consultation with the government authorities in charge of subject industry.
IV.“New chemical substances” refers to chemical substances that are not included in the existing chemical substance inventory.
V.“Handling” refers to such activities as the manufacture, import, export, sale, transport, use, storage or discarding of chemical substances.
VI.“Pollution of the environment” refers to an alteration of the quality of air, water or soil due to the handling of chemical substances such that it causes an impact on the normal use of the air, water or soil, destruction of the natural ecology or damage to property.
VII. “Release quantity” refers to the total quantity of a chemical substance that is dispersed into the air, water or soil due to handling.
Article 4
The central competent authority is responsible for the following matters:
1.Drafting of nationwide toxic and concerned chemical substances management policies, programs, and plans.
2.Drafting,review,and interpretation of nationwide toxic and concerned chemical substances management laws and regulations.
3.Oversight of nationwide toxic and concerned chemical substances transport management.
4.Supervision, guidance, and approval of toxic and concerned chemical substance management by special municipalities or counties/cities.
5.Coordination of management of toxic and concerned chemical substances in cases involving relevant agencies, two or more counties and cities, a special municipality and county/city, or two special municipalities.
6.Training of nationwide toxic and concerned chemical substances management research, development, and implementation personnel.
7.International cooperation and scientific/technological interchange concerning toxic and concerned chemical substances.
8.Awareness of nationwide toxic and concerned chemical substances management.
9.Oversight of mutual aid groups for nationwide toxic and concerned chemical substances.
10.Management and oversight of chemical substance registration and reporting tasks.
11.Other matters concerning the nationwide management of toxic chemical and concerned substances.
Article 5
The responsibilities of special municipality, county and city competent authorities are as follows:
I. Planning and implementation toxic chemical substance and chemical substance of very concern management implementation programs and plans within its area of jurisdiction.
II.Implementation of toxic chemical substance and chemical substance of very concern management laws and regulations implement and drafting, interpretation, and implementation of autonomous management laws and regulations within its area of jurisdiction.
III. Toxic chemical substance and chemical substance of very concern management research and development and awareness within its area of jurisdiction.
IV.Investigation and analysis of the transport and dispersion of toxic chemical substances and chemical substances of very concern within its area of jurisdiction.
V.Investigation of toxic chemical substance and chemical substance of very concern management and statistical data production and reporting within its area of jurisdiction.
VI. Oversight of regional toxic and concerned chemical substances’ mutual aid groups within its area of jurisdiction.
VII. Oversight of toxic chemical substance and chemical substance of very concern transport and handling within its area of jurisdiction.
VIII.Implementation and audit of chemical substance registration implementation and reporting matters.
IX. Other relevant toxic chemical substance and chemical substance of very concern management matters within its area of jurisdiction.
Article 6
The competent authority may a subordinate agency or commission another agency or group to implement relevant management research, personnel training, and hazard assessment and prevention matters related to toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances.
The competent authority may commission an administrative corporation, legal person, juridical organization, or relevant professional group to implement environmental accident response consulting and related matters regarding toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances, and certify their professional competence. The regulations for these juridical persons, organizations or groups for qualification requirements, verification methods, audits, deadlines, revocations, cancellations, and other administrative procedures shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.
Article 7
The Executive Yuan shall establish the National Chemical Substance Management Board, and the Premier of the Executive Yuan shall be the convener, convening relevant government departments, and assembled experts, scholars, and group representatives to strengthen the responsibility of relevant national chemical substance decision making and coordination, and the handing over to relevant agencies for implementation, to coordinate inter-department chemical substances risk assessment and management measures. The convener shall designate Ministers without Portfolio or minister to serve as executive of the National Chemical Substance Management Board and the central competent authority shall be responsible for staff matters.
Resolutions of the above the National Chemical Substance Management Board shall be implemented be relevant ministries. The Executive Yuan shall regularly monitor their oversight and report to the public, and annually report policies and objectives to the Legislative Yuan.
The composition, tasks, proceedings and other matters to be observed in the National Chemical Substance Management Board in Paragraph 1 shall be determined by the Executive Yuan.
Chapter 2 Assessment, Prevention and Management of Toxic Chemical Substances
Article 8
The central competent authority shall officially announce toxic chemical substances as Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 or Class 4 when the toxicological characteristics of chemical substances conform to the toxic chemical substance classification definitions prescribed in Article 3 of this Act.
The central competent authority may restrict or prohibit the handling of Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 toxic chemical substances.
Handlers may apply for the removal of the restrictions or prohibitions prescribed in the foregoing Paragraph when they can prove that prevention and control methods employed in the toxic chemical substance use process can prevent or avoid pollution of the environment or the endangerment of human health. The applicant may submit an appeal when an application is rejected, but only one appeal may be made. The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing documents to be attached to the appeal application, rejection, the deadline for submission of an appeal, and other related matters.
Prior to handling of Class 4 toxic chemical substances, toxicity and relevant information of the toxic chemical substances shall be reported to special municipality, county or city competent authorities. Such handling shall be performed upon permission of the competent authorities in compliance with authorized items.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing application for permission, review regulation, permits issuance (replacement and re-issue), validity time period, change, extension, cancellation, revocation, and other binding matters.
Article 9
The handler shall produce reports and regularly report records concerning the handling of toxic chemical substances and their release quantities; such records shall be preserved properly for future reference.
The central competent authority shall determine implementation procedures governing the production, format, and preservation of the records in Paragraph 1, the content, frequency, and method of reports, and other binding matters.
The competent authority shall provide the release quantities records on-line pursuant to Paragraph 1 to the public for reference, on a stage-by-stage basis.
Article 10
The central competent authority may control the handling of Class 1 and Class 2 toxic chemical substances by means of total release quantity control methods.
Article 11
Unless other regulations apply, the handling of toxic chemical substances shall be conducted in compliance with methods officially announced or approved by the central competent authority.
The central competent authority may, based on management requirements, officially announce control concentration standards and graded handling quantity for toxic chemical substances.
Article 12
When it is verified through scientific techniques or field testing and research of a toxic chemical substance that original officially announced management items fail to meet requirements, the central competent authority shall promptly issue an official announcement of modification or cancellation.
Article 13
A manufacturer, importer or seller of Class 1, 2 or 3 toxic chemical substances shall apply to the special municipality, the municipality, county or city competent authority for a permit, and shall operate in compliance with the content of the permit.
An enterprise using or storing Class 1, 2 or 3 toxic chemical substances shall apply to the municipality, county or city competent authority for registration, and shall operate in compliance with the content of the registration document.
An enterprise disposing of or exporting Class 1, 2 or 3 toxic chemical substances shall apply by the batch or shipment to the special municipality, county or city competent authority for registration, and may only begin handling after doing so.
With regard to the handling of toxic chemical substances prescribed in Paragraphs 1 and 2, when the total quantity handled is less than the graded handling quantity announced in Paragraph 2, Article 11, the case may be reported to the special municipality, county, or city competent authority for approval; after approval has been granted and approval documents obtained, the case shall not be subject to the restrictions of Paragraphs 1 and 2, Article 18, Article 35, and Article 39.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing permit, registration, and approval application, review procedures, issuance (replacement or renewal), change, extension, revocation, cancellation, and other binding matters in Paragraphs 1 to 4.
Article 14
When toxic chemical substances that have not been approved or permitted by a special municipality, county or city competent authority pursuant to the regulations of this Act are imported, the customs authority shall order the taxpayer to return said shipment within a limited period of time.
Article 15
The approval document in Paragraph 4, Article 8, the permit in Paragraph 1 of the Article 13, the registration document in Paragraph 2, and the approval document in Paragraph 4 shall have a validity period of 5 years. If handling must continue after this period, an application for an extension must be made to the municipal or county competent authority within 3 to 6 months prior to expiration; no extension may exceed 5 years.
The competent authority may modify or cancel the permit, registration document or approval in Paragraph 1 when necessary to prevent Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4 toxic chemical substances from polluting the environment and endangering human health.
Article 16
If a toxic chemical substance handler's permit, registration, or approval has been cancelled or revoked pursuant to the regulations of this Act, or if the handler has been suspended for business, the handler may not apply for a handling permit, registration, or approval for that toxic chemical substance within a period of two years.
Those handlers that have partially or completely suspended work or business pursuant to the regulations of this Act shall submit explanations and verification documents concerning the completion of improvements before the resumption of work or business, and may resume work or business only after verification and approval by the special municipality, county or city competent authority. This also applies to those that have been ordered by the competent authority to make improvements within a limited period and that voluntarily report the suspension of work or business.
Article 17
The handler shall mark toxicity and pollution control items in compliance with regulations on chemical substance containers, packaging, and handling premises and facilities, and shall keep safety data sheets for the toxic chemical substances in question on hand.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing the marking of containers, packaging, handling sites, and facilities, the preparation, classification, pictograms, contents, formats, and establishment of safety data sheets, and other binding matters in Paragraph 1.
Article 18
An enterprise manufacturing, using, storing or transporting Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 toxic chemical substances the handlers shall employ professional technical management personnel pursuant to regulations for the performance of toxic chemical substance pollution control and risk prevention.
The central competent authority shall, with regard to the professional technical management personnel in Paragraph 1, determine regulations governing qualifications and training; issuance, revocation or cancellation of qualification certificates; employment grade; number of personnel; work responsibilities; deputies; changes; and other binding matters.
Article 19
For those circumstances in which the handling of Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 toxic chemical substances is to be suspended for a period that exceeds one month, the statutory responsible person shall, within fourteen days from the day handling is suspended, submit a list of the remaining toxic chemical substances to the special municipality, county or city competent authority for approval and handle the remaining toxic chemical substances in compliance with the following methods.
I. Return to the original manufacturer of vendor.
II.Sale or transfer to others.
III. Return to overseas exporter.
IV.Disposal pursuant to relevant waste disposal regulations.
V.Other methods officially announced or approved by the central competent authority.
Article 20
The following circumstances in which Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 toxic chemical substances are handled shall be deemed as the suspension of handling:
I.Those circumstances in which handling is suspended for one year or more without the approval of the special municipality, county or city competent authority.
II.Those circumstances in which handling is suspended for six months or more and the special municipality, county or city competent authority determines there is concern of pollution of the environment or the endangerment of human health.
III.Those handlers of a toxic chemical substance whose permit, registration, or approval has been revoked or cancelled, or that have been ordered to terminate business, pursuant to the regulations of this Act.
Article 21
Toxic chemical substance handlers may not sell or transfer such toxic chemical substances to enterprises that have not obtained a permit, completed registration, or obtained approval in compliance with Paragraph 4, Article 8 and Paragraphs 1 to 4, Article 13. However, the case shall not be subject to this restriction if it has been reported to and received the approval of the special municipality, county, or city competent authority in advance.
The selling or transfer in Paragraph 1 may not involve mail orders, online shopping or other transaction platform wherein the identities of the parties to the transaction cannot be established.
Article 22
Each industry competent authority shall provide guidance for pollution abatement work for toxic chemical substances.
Article 23
The handling of toxic chemical substances by government agencies and academic organizations may be managed in conjunction with the following regulations:
I.The central competent authority in consultation with the central industry competent authority shall determine regulations governing management authority over and use of the handled toxic chemical substances; the employment of professional technical management personnel; transport; record production, reporting, and length of preservation; marking, storage, checking, prevention, joint prevention, emergency response and other binding matters
II.The central industry competent authority shall submit management methods for individual handling circumstances to the central competent authority for approval.
Chapter 3 Assessment, Prevention and Management of Concerned Chemical Substances
Article 24
The central competent authority must, based on management requirements, officially announce as a chemical substance of concern any chemical substance with characteristics that meet the chemical substances of concern as defined in Article 3.
Unless other regulations apply, the handling of chemical substances of concern shall be conducted in compliance with methods officially announced or approved by the central competent authority.
The central competent authority must, based on management requirements, officially announce control concentration standards and graded handling quantity of Paragraph 1.
Article 25
Enterprises handling chemical substances of concern announced shall apply to the special municipality, county or city competent authority for approval and shall implement handling in compliance with the approval document content.
With regard to the handling of chemical substances of concern in Paragraph 1, when the total quantity handled is less than the graded handling quantity announced in Paragraph 3 of Articles 24, the case shall not be subject to the restrictions of Articles 35 to 41.
The central competent authority shall determine the regulations for handling approval applications, review procedures, permit issuance (replacement and re-issue), validity period, changes, extension, cancellation, revocation, and other binding matters in Paragraph 1.
Article 26
The handler shall produce regular reports concerning the specified handling of chemical substances of concern, and such records must be properly preserved for future reference.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing record production and format, and report content, frequency, approach, preservation, and other binding matters in Paragraph 1.
Article 27
In compliance with regulations, the handler shall mark toxicity and pollution control items on chemical substances of concern containers, packaging, and handling premises and facilities, and shall keep safety data sheets for the substances in question on hand.
The central competent authority shall determine implementation procedures governing the container, packaging, and handling premise and facility markings, and safety data sheet production, classification, pictures, content, format, installation, and other binding matters in Paragraph 1.
Article 28
A handler of chemical substances of very concern may not sell or transfer chemical substances of concern to those who have not obtained approval as prescribed in Article 25. However, the case shall not be subject to this restriction if it has been reported to and received the approval of the special municipality, county, or city competent authority in advance.
The sell or transfer in Paragraph 1 may not be undertaken by mail order, online shopping or other transaction platform wherein the identities of the given parties may not be identified.
Article 29
Other provisions on the use of chemical substances of concern shall be governed by the provisions of Article 12, Articles 14 to 16, Article 18, and Articles 22 and 23.
Chapter 4 Registration and Reporting of Chemical Substances
Article 30
Those that manufacture or import certain quantities of existed chemical substances each year shall apply to register chemical substance data from the competent authority before the specified deadline. Those enterprises of manufacturing or importing new chemical substances shall apply to register chemical substance data from the competent authority 90 days prior to the aforementioned activities. Both abovementioned existed and new chemical substances (it is called registered chemical substance thereafter) shall be allowed to manufacture or import after approval of their registration.
The manufacturer or importer shall proactively maintain and update the data in Paragraph 1 of approved and registered chemical substances.
Chemical substances subject to registration must be regularly declared in compliance with the central competent authority's regulations.
The registered content of chemical substance data in Paragraph 1 includes status of manufacture or import, physical, and chemical, toxicological, exposure characteristics, as well as hazardous assessment, and other data items designated to be included in registration by the central competent authority. Based on the annual quantities of manufacture and import along with the substance type, registration may be divided into standard registration, simplified registration, and small quantity registration.
The central competent authority shall make registered regulations for the various types of the chemical substances in Paragraphs 1 to 4, including quantity increments, status of manufacture or import, physical, chemical, toxicological, and exposure characteristics, as well as hazardous assessment along with other required documents, for example, registration deadline, the standard registration, simplified registration, small quantity registration, joint registration approaches, review procedures, approval/rejection, revocation or cancellation of registration approval, prohibited or restricted handling approaches, data reporting or addition following registration, document preservation methods, information disclosure, business secret protection methods, and other binding matters.
Article 31
If the central competent authority judges that the characteristics of a new chemical substance in compliant with the definition of a toxic chemical substance or chemical substance of very concern, an incidental provision shall be appended at the time of registration requiring the submission of chemical substance hazard information, updated registered report data or regular reporting of handling conditions and, when necessary, prohibit or restrict the chemical substance’s handling. When discovered after approval and registration, the central competent authority may also modify or add required or prohibited or restricted items.
If the central competent authority confirms that the toxicity of a new chemical substance in compliant with the definition of toxic chemical substance classes as prescribed in Article 3, the substance shall be announced as prescribed in Paragraph 1, Article 8. If the characteristics of said chemical substance meet the definition of a chemical substance of very concern, the substance shall be announced as prescribed in Paragraph 1, Article 24.
Article 32
Registration and declaration may be performed individually or through joint consultation.
When different parties apply to register the same chemical substance jointly or sequentially, they may use common data needed for registration through consultation, and do not need to repeat testing.
When data is used jointly through consultation in Paragraph 1, if the parties involved cannot negotiate the apportionment of expenses entailed by the acquisition of necessary data, the central competent authority may determine an average apportionment at the request of the registrants, and permit the use of the registration data after the parties have paid their respective shares of expenses.
Article 33
The approved chemical substance data for registration should be used to manage chemical substances those are utilized by the industry competent authority. Moreover, the data should be provided as the basis for assessment, screening and announcement of toxic chemical substances and chemical substances of high concern. The same applies in the case of data reported for future reference.
Article 34
With regard to the handling and management of chemical substances whose registration has been approved, apart from their announcement as toxic chemical substances or chemical substances of very concern and handling in compliance with this Act, the chemical substances shall be handled in compliance with the laws and regulations of other central industry competent authorities.
The central competent authority may commission management of the approved registration and other relevant matters concerning existing chemical substances and new chemical substances to a nonprofit organization established with funding from the central competent authority, an non-departmental public body, or relevant professional group; implementation procedures concerning the qualifying criteria, commissioning review and approval, commissioned time period, cancellation, revocation and other binding matters shall be determined by the central competent authority.
Chapter 5 Accident Prevention and Emergency Response
Article 35
The handlers of Class 1, 2, 3 toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances that have been designated and officially announced as being hazardous by the central competent authority shall submit risk prevention and response plans to the special municipal, county, or city competent authority to be filed for future reference, and shall implement measures in compliance with the content of the risk prevention and response plans.
The competent authority shall make public the complete risk prevention and response plans in Paragraph 1 via a specified website and in other appropriate ways for public review.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing the production, content, submission, implementation, public review and other binding matters of the risk prevention and emergency response plans in Paragraphs 1 and 2.
Article 36
Handlers of Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances that have been specified and announced as being hazardous by the central competent authority shall adopt measures necessary to protect third parties, and shall, pursuant to regulations, purchase liability insurance to cover handling risks.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing the handlers required to purchase liability insurance and insurance targets, insurance contract items, minimum insurance amount, insurance content, and document preservation and relevant document content in Paragraph 1.
Article 37
Handlers of toxic chemical substances and handlers of concerned chemical substances that have been designated and officially announced as being hazardous by the central competent authority must take active steps to prevent accidents from occurring, and must assign or commission emergency responders or emergency response organizations certified by central competent authority to bear responsibility for adoption of necessary protective, emergency response, and clean-up operations in the event of an accident.
A handler in Paragraph 1 shall order the emergency responders to participate in training and retraining operated by the central competent authority itself or a designated agency and preserve training records.
The regulations governing training qualifications, grades, number of people, (re)training, training record keeping, training certificate issuance, registration, cancellation and revocation, certification methods of professional emergency response organizations and other measures to be followed in Paragraphs 1 and 2 by the emergency responder shall be established by the central competent authority.
Article 38
An enterprise manufacturing, using, storing or transporting Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances that have been designated and officially announced as being hazardous by the central competent authority shall establish a mutual aid group, and must submit its establishment plan to the competent authority for future reference. The handler shall assist with protective, emergency response, and clean-up operations in the event of an accident.
The central competent authority shall determine the regulations governing requisite assistance matters, applications, reporting, period of validity, changes, training, audits, and other binding matters of the mutual aid group in Paragraph 1.
Article 39
The normal operation of discharge and leakage prevention facilities shall be maintained and emergency response, detection and alarm equipment shall be kept available while Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances that have been designated and officially announced as being hazardous by the central competent authority are in the process of being handled.
Handlers in paragraph 1 which have been designated and announced as being required to connect on line shall establish their automatic monitoring facilities and complete their connection to the competent authority by designated deadline.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing installation, construction, operation, inspection, maintenance, preservation, calibration, frequency of record keeping, connection method, records storage and other binding matters with regard to the response equipment and detection and alarm equipment in Paragraphs 1 and 2.
Article 40
Owners of Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances that have been designated and officially announced as being hazardous by the central competent authority shall, prior to transport, submit a transport manifest to the special municipality, county or city competent authority at the place of dispatch, and shall send a copy of the authorized transport manifest to the special municipality, county or city competent authority at the destination.
Vehicles transporting chemical substances in Paragraph 1 shall, pursuant to regulations, be installed with real-time tracking systems, which shall be announced from the Central Competent Authority kept in normal operation.
The central competent authority in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications shall determine regulations governing transport manifest reporting and preservation, transport markings, documents to be carried, safety equipment, accident handling, and other binding matters in Paragraphs 1 and 2.
Article 41
For those toxic chemical substances and concerned chemical substances that have been designated and officially announced as being hazardous by the central competent authority for which one of the following circumstances applies, the handler shall promptly adopt emergency control measures and, within no longer than 30 minutes, notify the competent authority for the area where the accident occurred.
I.Those circumstances in which the environment surrounding the handling site for which there is concern of suffers pollution due to leakage, chemical reaction or other unexpected accident.
II.Those circumstances in which an unexpected accident occurs during transport and for which there is concern of pollution of the environment or the endangerment of human health.
The reporting method for Paragraph 1 shall be announced by the central competent authority.
In all cases of Paragraph 1, in addition to taking immediate measures, the competent authority must order a stop to the operations where the accident occurred or to the entire operation.
If an accident occurs in the course of delivery in the case of the Subparagraph 2 of Paragraph 1, the handler or owner shall dispatch professional emergency response personal within two hours or commission a professional emergency response organization to the site of the accident to take charge of accident emergency response and other follow-up tasks.
The handler in Paragraph 1 shall, in addition to being required to bear responsibility for clearance and disposal pursuant to relevant regulations after the occurrence of an accident, also submit a report to the competent authority for reference. The central competent authority shall determine standards governing the format, content, items to be recorded, and other binding matters of said report.
Article 42
All costs incurred by the competent authority in the course of handling accidents according to Paragraph 3 of Articles 41, shall be borne by the operator or owner. Fees may be paid from the fund in Article 47, and then claimed from the handler or owner.
The competent authority shall be exempted from providing a pledge to the administrative court with its request for provisional attachment or provisional injunction.
The right to obtain payment for the expenses in Paragraph 1 shall take precedence over all creditor's rights and mortgage rights and shall be nullified if not exercised within ten years.
Article 43
Emergency response vehicles dispatched by a competent authority or the handler to an accident in accordance with Article 41 are not subject to vehicle speed limit regulations, traffic signs and other signals when they have illuminated their warning lights and turned on their sirens.
The implementation procedures governing markings, color, equipment standards, purpose, driver qualifications, handler, registration, operations supervisor and other related matters of the toxic chemical substances or concerned chemical substances emergency response vehicle of Paragraph 1 shall be determined by the central competent authority and the Ministry of Transportation.
Chapter 6 Audit, Inspection, and Financial Matters
Article 44
The competent authority may send personnel bearing documents verifying their implementation of relevant duties or markings sufficient to provide identification to enter public or private premises, and examine the handling of toxic chemical substances, chemical substances of very concern, and other chemical substances that must be registered, relevant goods or premises, or order the provision of relevant information. Such personnel may order the provision of stocking, production, sales, and inventory documents, account books, relevant statements, and other production/marketing or import/export data needed to audit said substance flows. When necessary, such personnel may request the presentation of receipts, take samples of relevant chemical substances or goods, implement inspection, and provisionally seal the premises, which shall be left under the safekeeping of the statutory responsible person.
Any samples taken as specified in Paragraph 1 shall be promptly tested, and an environmental analysis and testing organization that has received a permit from the central competent authority may be conditioned to perform testing. The time needed for the testing of samples may not exceed one month. However, this restriction shall not apply after the central competent authority's approval has been obtained.
The environmental analysis and testing organization in Paragraph 1 may conduct only those test types specified in its permit. The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing such an organization's required conditions, facilities, testing personnel qualifications, in-service training, permit application, review procedures, period of validity, permit issuance (replacement and re-issue), permit revocation or cancellation, suspension of business, resumption of operation, audit, assessment procedures, data reporting, and other binding matters.
Standard testing methods and quality management items for toxic chemical substances, chemical substances of very concern, and other chemical substances that must be registered shall be announced by the central competent authority.
Article 45
When audit is performed of toxic chemical substances, chemical substances of very concern, chemical substances that must be registered, or related goods in compliance with Paragraph 1 of Article 44, the audit results shall be handled as follows:
I.If the regulations of this Act have been violated, the violator shall be punished pursuant to the regulations of this Act, and the handler must dispose of the substance or goods within a limited period of time in compliance with waste clearance and disposal laws and regulations.
II.When a sealed substance or article has been determined to be waste, the handler may be ordered to dispose of the substance or article within a limited period of time in compliance with waste clearance and disposal laws and regulations. If it is determined that improvement may be made or the substance may be converted to another substance, the seal shall be removed, the items handed back, and the handler requested to make improvement under supervision within a limited time period or perform conversion. If the handler fails to make improvement or perform conversion in the time provided, the handler may be ordered to dispose of the substance or article within a limited period of time in compliance with waste clearance and disposal laws and regulations.
III.The seal shall be removed and the items handed back if there was no violation of this Act.
Article 46
The central competent authority shall determine the standards for fees collected by competent authorities in compliance with this Act.
Article 47
The central competent authority shall establish a fund to collect handling fees from handlers on the basis of the handling, release quantities, state of dispersion, accident hazard or risk of substances for the purpose of management, screening, assessment, and control of announced chemical substances.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing the substance types corresponding to the chemical substance handling fees in Paragraph 1, calculation methods, payment procedures, payment deadlines, commissioning of professional organizations to perform audit, and other binding matters.
The sources for the fund in Paragraph 1 are as follows:
I.Income from chemical substance handling fees.
II.Fund yield income.
III.Allocations from relevant environmental protection funds.
IV.Appropriations from the central competent authority made following budgetary procedures.
V.Chemical substance registration and reporting fees, and other fees that must be collected pursuant to this Act.
VI.Fees from emergency responders training and retraining.
VII.Reimbursements for expense claims in accordance with this Act.
VIII.Allocation of some fines for violating this Act and income from the recovery of outstanding debts by competent authorities pursuant to Article 66.
IX.Fines levied and paid pursuant to this Act, and cash or income from the sale of confiscated or recovered proceeds due to violations of this Act.
X.Other income connected with chemical substance management.
Article 48
The fund in Paragraph 1 of Article 47 shall have the following uses:
I.Expenses for chemical substance management, coordination, consulting, hazard assessment, prevention, incentives, subsidies and assistance.
II.Expenses for personnel, equipment and materials as required for environmental accident monitoring and handling measures.
III.Expenses connected with chemical substance checking, verifying, and auditing and the commissioning or subsidizing of testing organizations to carry out testing of chemical substances.
IV.Expenses connected with chemical substance release quantities, dispersion surveys, health risk assessments and management.
V.Expenses for chemical substance technology research, promotion, development, science and technology exchanges, personnel training and international work.
VI.Expenses connected with collection of chemical substance handling fees, fund claims, litigation and related administrative and personnel maintenance.
VII.Other expenses related to chemical substance management and hazard assessment and prevention approved by the central competent authority.
The central competent authority shall determine regulations governing the fund incentive and subsidy recipients, application qualifications, review procedures, cancellation and revocation of incentives and subsidies, demand for payment, and other binding matters in Paragraph 1 Subparagraph 1.
The central competent authority may send personnel bearing verification documents to enter plants (facilities) and business premises subordinate to chemical substance handling fee payers to perform relevant audit tasks or order the provision of necessary data, and the fee payer may not evade, obstruct, or refuse such personnel's requests.
Article 49
The Toxic Substances and Chemical Substances Management Fund in the foregoing article shall establish a fund management committee (referred to below as "management committee") to bear responsibility for management and use; the management committee may establish a working technology team when necessary.
The management committee in Paragraph 1 shall designate members, who shall have two-year periods of appointment; experts and scholars may not constitute less than two-thirds of the total number of committee members; and neither gender should occupy less than one-third of the seats of the committee.
Chapter 7 Penal Provisions
Article 50
In any of the following circumstances, when death results, the responsible party shall be subject to life imprisonment or at least 7 years of imprisonment, and may be fined from NT$5 million to NT$10 million; when serious injury results, the responsible party shall be subject to from 3 to 10 years of imprisonment, and may be fined from NT$3 million to NT$5 million; when health hazards causing disease result, the responsible party shall be subject to from six months to five years of imprisonment, and may be fined NT$1 million to NT$4 million:
I.Violation of the restrictions or prohibitions announced in Paragraph 2, Article 8.
II.Unauthorized handling after failing to obtain a permit as prescribed in Paragraph 1, Article 14 or handling not in compliance with the items listed on the permit.
III.Unauthorized handling after failing to perform registration or obtain approval as prescribed in Paragraph 4 of Article 8, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 13, or Paragraph 1 of Article 25 or handling not in compliance with the items listed on the registration or approval document.
IV.The failure to promptly adopt emergency control measures pursuant to Paragraph 1 of Article 41or comply with an order issued by the competent authority pursuant to Paragraph 3 of the same article.
Article 51
When any one of the following situations applies, the responsible party shall be subject to from six months to 5 years of imprisonment, detention, and/or a fine of from NT$1 million to NT$5 million:
I. Violation of the restrictions or prohibitions announced in Paragraph 2, Article 8, causing severe pollution to the environment.
II. Unauthorized handling after failing to obtain a permit pursuant to Paragraph 1, Article 13 or handling not in compliance with the items listed on the permit, causing severe pollution to the environment.
III.Unauthorized handling after failing to obtain registration or approval pursuant to Paragraph 4 of Article 8, Paragraph 2 and 3 of Article 13, or Paragraph 1 of Article 25 or handling not in compliance with the items listed on the registration or approval document, causing severe pollution to the environment.
IV.The failure to promptly adopt emergency control measures pursuant to Paragraph 1 of Article 41or comply with an order issued by the competent authority pursuant to Paragraph 3 of the same article, causing severe pollution to the environment.
V. Those circumstances in which those that have reporting obligations pursuant to the regulations of this Act knowingly report false information or keep false records of their operations.
Article 52
For those circumstances in which a statutory responsible person of a juridical person, or an agent, employee or other working personnel of a juridical person or natural person, due to the performance of work responsibilities, violates either of the two previous articles, in addition to the perpetrator being punished, said juridical person or natural person shall also be fined up to ten times the fine amount pursuant to the regulations of each article violated.
Article 53
If a handler does not comply with an order by the competent authority to suspend work or business pursuant to this Act, the responsible person shall be subject to less than 3 years of imprisonment, detention and/or a fine of from NT$200,000 to NT$5 million.
If a handler does not comply with an order by the competent authority to stop activities, the responsible person shall be subject to less than 1 year of imprisonment, detention and/or a fine of from NT$200,000 to NT$1 million.
Article 54
A handler may not dismiss, demote, reduce the pay of, or take any other unfavorable action against professional technology management personnel or other employee who disclose behavior in violation of this Act to the competent authority or judicial agency, serves as a witness in a lawsuit, or refuses to participate in actions violating this Act.
Any dismissal, demotion, pay reduction, or other unfavorable action taken by a handler or its person exercising management powers shall be invalid.
If the professional technology management personnel or other employee of a handler is subject to unfavorable action due to the behavior specified in Paragraph 1, the handler shall bear responsibility for presenting evidence showing that the unfavorable action is unconnected with the behavior specified in Paragraph 1.
If the professional technology management personnel or other employee of a handler commits an offense of interference with personal privacy or breach of trust under criminal law or special criminal law in their disclosure, the sentence for committing such offences shall be reduced or waived.
If the professional technology management personnel or other employee of a handler has participated in behavior subject to criminal responsibility pursuant to this Act, but discloses this behavior to the competent authority or makes a confession or surrenders to a judicial agency, resulting in the capture of other principal criminals or accomplices, the sentence for such crimes shall be reduced or waived.
If the professional technology management personnel or other employee of a handler is the victim of unfavorable action as described in Paragraph 1, the competent authority shall provide necessary legal assistance.
The central competent authority shall determine the imp
- Links: https://oaout.moenv.gov.tw/law/LawContent.aspx?id=FL015852
https://oaout.moenv.gov.tw/law/EngLawContent.aspx?lan=E&id=210
- Attachments1Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act (PDF) (Chinese only)
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(Downloaded 466 times)(Update Time:2019-01-17 14:24:14) - Attachments31130111Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act.pdf (PDF)
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