

Chemicals - Singapore

Compliance Services
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MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
Licensing controls prevent unauthorised persons from handling such substances and ensure proper safeguards are always taken in the handling of substances to prevent accidental releases and to mitigate ant adverse effects if they occur.
Hazardous Substances Licence
Any person who wishes to import, sell, or export any hazardous substance controlled under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) must obtain a licence.
Will be issued to a person if:
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He can show proof that the hazardous substances will be stored safely in an approved location and in compliance with all storage requirements
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The use of the hazardous substances at his factory has been approved
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He has sat and passed the Management of Hazardous Substances Course
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His academic qualification must be at least a technical diploma.
Hazardous Substances Permit
Any person who wishes to import, sell, or export any hazardous substance controlled under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) must obtain a Licence.
Will be issued to a person if:
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He can show proof that the hazardous substances will be stored safely in an approved location and in compliance with all storage requirements
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The use of the hazardous substances at his factory has been approved
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He has sat and passed the Management of Hazardous Substances Course
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His academic qualification must be at least a technical diploma.
Transport Approval Control
Any person who wishes to transport any hazardous substance in quantities exceeding the limits specified in the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations must obtain a Transport Approval. The limits varies from 0 kg for highly toxic chemicals such as organochlorines pesticides to 1000 kg for corrosives such as sulphuric acid. Application for a transport approval shall be accompanied by a transportation emergency response plan (TERP) that has been prepared in accordance to SCDF’s format.
Will be issued to a person if:
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He holds a licence to handle hazardous substances
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He can show proof that the hazardous substances will be transported safely in compliance with all transportation requirements.
Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA)
The EPMA and its Regulations provide provisions for technical requirements to be imposed and complied with to ensure the safe management and handling of hazardous substances and to prevent an accident from occurring.
Storage requirement
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Storage area should be sheltered; fenced-up; under lock and key; provided with kerb/hump all around the storage area; provided with fire protection and safety facilities; equipped with leak detection and warning devices and emergency scrubbing systems for storage of toxic gases.
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Containers and storage tanks for the chemicals must be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance to an internationally-acceptable standards.
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Keep records of stock movements of the hazardous substances.
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Adequate emergency action plan (see Annex 1) for dealing with any accidental release of chemicals must be drawn; with adequate stock of emergency equipment such as neutralising agent, adsorbents, oversized drums, protective gears, etc kept on standby.
Transport requirement
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The containers and tankers used for bulk chemical transportation must be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance to an internationally-acceptable standards. The tankers must be certified by an approved third party inspection body to have met the stipulated standards before it can be used for transportation on Singapore roads.
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Containers, tankers, and vehicles must be properly labelled and carry appropriate hazard warning panels.
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All transportation of controlled Hazardous Substances must strictly adhere to NEA's approved routes and must be between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm (Monday to Saturday excluding Sundays and Public Holidays)
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All drivers must be trained in the handling of accidental spills and have attended the HazMat Driver Course conducted by SCDF's Civil Defence Academy or Singapore Port Institute (PSA Institute).
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An adequate transportation emergency response plan (TERP) (see Annex 5) must also be put up to deal with any accidental release of the hazardous substances; with adequate stock of emergency equipment carried on the vehicles; such as chemical fire extinguisher, neutralising agent, adsorbents, oversized drums, protective gears, etc.
Emergency Response Plan
As a condition for granting licences and transport approvals, companies are required to put up emergency response plans.
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The plan must be comprehensive and should contain the following key elements:
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Notification procedures; (persons and authorities to contact and how to contact)
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Emergency procedures to contain and decontaminate spills; (immediate actions to be taken by driver/ground staff and actions to be taken by the company upon being informed)
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Emergency equipment to be carried on the vehicle and at base such as personal protection equipment, absorbents, neutralising solutions and salvage drums
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Material Safety Data Sheets of the hazardous substances transported.
CONTROL OF VECTORS AND PESTICIDES ACT (CVPA)
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All pesticide and repellent products intended for use against the five vectors (i.e. mosquitoes, flies, rodents, cockroaches and rat fleas) in Singapore are required to be registered with the National Environment Agency (NEA).
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The main objectives of this registration are to ensure that the pesticide and repellent products sold in Singapore are:
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Effective for their intended use
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Unlikely to pose undue hazards to the public and the environment​
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Properly labelled
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It is the responsibility of the dealer to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of the product.
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A Hazardous Substances Licence/Permit issued by the Development Control & Licensing Division (National Environment Agency) is required, prior to registration, for pesticides or repellents containing any hazardous substance controlled under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA).
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Pesticide and repellent products are registered under the following categories:
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For General Use: can be used by households directly. The formulated product should be “Unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use” (based on the “WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard and Guidelines to Classification 2009”).
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For Restricted Use: shall only be handled by licensed pest control operators. The formulated product may have high toxicity or concentration, and/or require further mixing/dilution and/or specialised equipment for the application of the product. All rodenticide products are required to be registered as “For Restricted Use”.​
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Pesticide and repellent products can be further classified based on type of active ingredients into chemical, microbial, or botanical products, based on the type of active ingredients.
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Pesticide and repellent products, unless specifically required by NEA, are not subjected to registration with NEA prior to advertising, sale or supply of the products:
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Fumigants, which are controlled under the Hydrogen Cyanide (Fumigation) Act;
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Pesticides/repellents imported solely for re-export purpose;
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Pesticides/repellents solely for agricultural and/ or for gardening use (please seek advice from the SFA (Singapore Food Agency) on the registration of agricultural pesticides);
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Pesticides/repellents that do not target the five mentioned vectors (i.e. mosquitoes, flies, rodents, cockroaches and rat fleas);
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Pesticides/repellents whose mode of action is physical in nature (e.g. light and ultrasound);
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Repellents formulated with botanical active ingredients.​
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Reference:
[1] NEA