The Chemical Watch Podcast: Updated chemicals laws in China, Japan and Vietnam

In this week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast from Enhesa, we look at recent updates to chemical laws in China, Japan and Vietnam. Asia desk editor Dr Kerry Hebden joins the podcast to talk about changes to Japan’s Chemical Substances Control Law, some of which are due to take effect next month. Kerry also talks about Japan’s transition from the 6th version of the UN’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals to GHS 9. Asia desk senior reporter Uzair Aftab also joins us to discuss what’s ahead for Vietnam after the country adopted its new Law on Chemicals last summer. In addition, Uzair talks about China, its new Law on the Safety of Hazardous Chemicals and how the country hopes to become a world powerhouse for cosmetics.  Tune in to learn more. And then come back to see all the latest headlines from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected]. 

This week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast from Enhesa takes a look at what is ahead for the global packaging sector.  Senior editor Charlotte Niemiec joins us to talk about the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) taking effect later this year and what that means for companies. We’ll also discuss the growing number of US states that have adopted extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, including the status of the federal lawsuit challenging Oregon's scheme. Tune in to learn more. And then we hope you will come back to read all the latest headlines from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the host at [email protected]. 

This week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast from Enhesa takes us inside the US EPA’s recent proposal to amend the 2023 TSCA PFAS reporting rule and the potential implications for stakeholders. North America Managing Editor Kelly Franklin joins us to talk about the ways EPA is looking to scale back the scope of its TSCA section 8(a)(7) rule, why article importers may support those plans, and why environmental and public health groups likely will not. We’ll also talk about how modifications could affect the information the agency collects, what the proposal means for the current April 2026 opening of the reporting period, and why litigation may ultimately follow any final changes.  Tune in to learn more. And then come back to read the latest headlines from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

This week’s Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast looks at the factors behind retailer Patagonia’s 20-year journey to phase out the use of intentionally added PFAS. Business editor Shanda Moorghen joins the podcast to talk about Patagonia’s recent announcement that it has phased out PFAS from its new products, how it got there, and why the company says it still will not market its products as "PFAS free". We also discuss the roles that NGO advocates, lawmakers and industry all have to play as more businesses and jurisdictions grapple with how to deal with the persistent, but useful, class of chemicals. Tune in to learn more. And then come back to read the latest headlines from Enhesa’s Chemical Watch News & Insight. Have a podcast idea or a comment to share? Let us know by emailing the editor at [email protected].

In this episode, Managing Editor for Europe, Leigh Stringer, discusses what we know about the REACH revision and how a negative opinion on the proposal from the European Commission’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board has thrown a wrench into the timing of its release. We also walk through the basics of the EU’s simplification agenda and how it is impacting the REACH revision and other EU chemicals legislation.

In this episode, North America desk editor Julia John talks about California legislation that could limit phthalates in IV bags, bisphenols in children's products and more. Asia senior reporter Uzair Aftab talks about how businesses are dealing with Taiwan's upcoming deadline for registering more than 100 priority existing chemicals. Finally, senior reporter on biocides, Vanessa Zainainger, joins us to talk about Biobor JR, an exempted jet fuel preservative, and how it came to enter, and stay, on the EU market.

In this episode, Europe managing editor Leigh Stringer talks about the results of this summer’s elections in Europe and what they might mean for policies like the EU’s REACH revision and the alternative transitional registration model (ATRm) for UK REACH. Senior editor Terry Hyland talks about the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision to overturn Chevron deference and how it could affect TSCA.

In this episode, Europe editor Luke Buxton walks us through the new UK REACH registration model ⁠proposal⁠, Asia desk editor Dr Kerry Hebden talks about why Japanese businesses want ⁠more time⁠ to phase out the flame retardant Dechlorane Plus, and North America desk editor Julia John shares the story behind how the UV-absorber ⁠BEMT⁠ could become first sunscreen active ingredient approved in the US in decades.

This week's Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast takes a deep dive into a recent ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Inhance Technologies v US EPA. In this episode, North America managing editor Kelly Franklin and senior editor Terry Hyland discuss the history and potentially broad implications of the court's conclusion that the EPA exceeded its statutory authority in issuing TSCA orders that would have forced Texas-based Inhance to shut down its long-running process for fluorinating plastic containers.

This week's Chemical Watch News & Insight podcast dives into some of the latest developments out of the European Commission, Taiwan and the US EPA. In this episode, senior correspondent for Europe Clelia Oziel discusses action behind the scenes as the European Commission debates the REACH revision, polymer registration, essential use of chemicals and more.