A new positive list for food contact materials (FCMs) was recently published by Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA). In addition to adding 13 new chemicals, this edition modifies the prerequisites and consumption restrictions for four substances. The changes will take effect on June 1, 2025.… Read More »Japan’s Food Contact Materials Positive List Updates Four Substances and Adds 13

It is the first sustainability reporting standard for the public sector, and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) announced the publication of SRS ED 1, a new draft climate-related disclosure standard for governments and other private sector enterprises. The new standard is being… Read More »IPSASB Announces a Proposed Public Sector Climate-Related Reporting Standard

The 2025 notification schedule for new chemical substances, which applies to chemicals produced or imported in amounts greater than one ton annually, was recently made public by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of… Read More »Japan Announces 2025 New Chemical Substance Notification Schedule

The Federal Senate approved Brazil’s REACH-inspired bill for the President’s final approval. Brazil’s REACH-inspired chemical law (PL 6120/2019) was approved by the Federal Senate Plenary on October 15, 2024. The law has now been sent to the Executive Branch for the President’s final approval. A… Read More »Brazil REACH Approved by Senate for Final Sanction

The annual European Common Enforcement Priorities (ECEP) Statement for corporate reporting, which was released by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s market watchdog, outlined the main concerns surrounding the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as areas that ESMA and national European… Read More »ESMA Prioritizes Enforcement on Double Materiality and Compliance with CSRD Sustainability Statements

Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) published the Reform of Packaging Regulation Consultation Paper on September 27, 2024. Three alternatives for changing Australia’s packaging laws are presented in this document. Comments are accepted through October 28, 2024. Australia’s National Environment Protection… Read More »Australia Proposes to Reform Packaging Regulations, Involving EPR for Packaging

The South Korean Ministry of Environment formally announced a thorough modification of the categories of persistent pollutants and particular exemption regulations on September 4, 2024, with the release of Notification No. 2024-571. The Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Control Act defines persistent pollutants, and this amendment… Read More »South Korea Declares Exemptions and a Comprehensive List for Persistent Pollutants

Recently elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a new climate target today, committing to cut UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 81% by 2035, on a 1990 basis. The new target, announced at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, raises the UK’s climate ambition… Read More »UK Commits to Cut Emissions More than 80% by 2035