On September 8, 2023, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) jointly published a notice on the declaration schedule for the manufacturing and import of new chemical substances in 2024, bringing important information to industries in the chemical sector. In accordance with laws on chemical substance review and manufacturing, enterprises must make a declaration according to the regulations before manufacturing or importing new chemical substances to obtain relevant determination notice, so as to undergo review on the properties of the chemical substance.

On July 3, 2023, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the approval results of the fourth batch of regular registrations of new chemical substances in 2023. In accordance with the Measures for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12), THE MEE hereby released results after review.

On July 7, 2023, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published approval results of the ninth batch of simplified registration of new chemical substances in 2023. In accordance with the Measures for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12), the MEE hereby published the results after review.

On June 21, 2023, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the approval results of the eighth batch of simplified registrations of new chemical substances in 2023. In accordance with the Measures for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12), the MEE hereby made the results public to be approved after review.

On March 24, 2023, Taiwanese Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) released the Guidance on Phrase 1 Registration of New and Existing Chemical Substances (Version 1) (hereinafter referred to as the “Guidance”). The Guidance aims to explain relevant provisions of the Regulation of New and Existing Chemical Substances Registration to help registrants complete registrations. Earlier in August 2015, Taiwan’s EPA implemented the Guidelines for the Registration of New and Existing Chemical Substances (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines"). In the past 8 years, many problems have been encountered and some testing standards have also been updated. Considering these problems and the increasing suggestions from the industry, Taiwan’s EPA hereby made the revisions.

The Measures on the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12) were implemented two years ago on January 1, 2021. It has not only optimized and adjusted the registration types and relevant data requirements to lessen the burden on enterprises, but also focused on environmental risk prevention and control for new chemical substances with high environmental risks. In addition, MEE Order 12 has specified the registration standards and improved the approval requirements for new chemical substances in the review and evaluation, stating the specific circumstances for approval, disapproval, reapplication, change, withdrawal, and revocation of registrations.

On November 23, 2022, Bill PL 6120/2019 was approved by the Commission of Economic Development, Industry, Trade, and Commercial Services (CDEICS) of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies and has been submitted to the Commission on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship (CCJS) for further review. If the Bill successfully passes the review, it will act as the Brazilian REACH Regulation. Domestic enterprises involved in exporting chemicals to Brazil should pay close attention to the Bill. If the Bill becomes law, Brazil will become the third country in South America, to set up chemical management rules, after Chile and Colombia.

On December 5, 2022, China's Ministry of Ecological Environment (MEE) announced the addition of a batch of six substances that fulfill the requirements of existing substances for inclusion in the IECSC. These six substances were all manufactured, sold, processed in, or imported into China before October 15, 2003. Following its review of the application materials and evidence documents submitted by the applicant, the MEE believed that these substances fulfill the requirements for IECSC supplementation.

On December 5, 2022, China's Ministry of Ecological Environment (MEE) announced the addition of a batch of 36 substances that fulfill the requirements of existing substances into the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances Produced or Imported in China (IECSC). These 36 substances were all registered under the original MEP Order 7 and five years have passed since they reported their first activity.

With the first UK REACH submission deadline (October 2023) approaching, the UK government has released a consultation on extending the current submission deadlines. According to the consultation results published on November 29, 2022, 82% of respondents selected to extend the deadline by three years.