European Commission grants RoHS exemption for cadmium, lead in PVC applications
The amendment to the EU RoHS Directive was published in the EU's Official Journal on 10 January, approving an exemption request for the use of lead and cadmium in electrical and electronic windows and doors containing recovered polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This particular use is permitted until 28 May 2028.
Cadmium and lead in plastic profiles containing mixtures produced from recovered rigid PVC waste, used for electrical and electronic windows and doors, where the concentration in the recovered rigid PVC material does not exceed 0,1 % cadmium by weight and 1,5 % lead by weight.
From 28 May 2026, rigid PVC recovered from electrical and electronic windows and doors shall only be used for the production of new articles under the categories specified in entry 63, points 18(a) to (d) of Annex XVII to REACH regulation.
Suppliers of PVC articles containing recovered rigid PVC with a concentration of lead equal to or greater than 0,1 % by weight of the PVC material shall ensure, before placing those articles on the market, that they are marked with the statement: “Contains ≥ 0,1 % lead”. Where the marking cannot be provided on the article due to the nature of the article, it shall be on the packaging.

Bisphenol S added to Proposition 65 List
On December 29, 2023, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has added bisphenol S (BPS) to the Proposition 65 list as a reproductive toxicant (female reproductive endpoint). This listing was done via the "State's Qualified Experts" mechanism, based on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee's (DARTIC) determination that this chemical was clearly shown to cause female reproductive toxicity.
A meeting of the DARTIC was held virtually on December 12, 2023. During the meeting, OEHHA staff presented a summary of evidence on the female reproductive toxicity of bisphenol S (BPS). The DARTIC then determined that BPS was clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause female reproductive toxicity by a vote of 9 (yes) to 0 (no).
BPS is a common replacement for BPA in some types of paper receipts, protective coatings, epoxy resins and other polymers.

Taiwan, China strengthens PFAS management
Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MoE) has formulated a plan to manage persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention, including PFAS such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). the MoE will encourage industry to voluntarily reduce its use of PFAS or use substitutes and strengthen its communication with various stakeholders, including educating the public so as to protect human health.
The MoE will work with ten other ministries and committees to implement five main objectives:

• managing the source of pollution;
• controlling the pollutants' spread;
• integrating international regulations;
• controlling industrial use of the substances; and
• communicating risks.

• Designates methoxychlor, dechlorane plus and UV-328 as Class 1 Specified Chemical Substances under the nation's 'Act on the Evaluation of Chemicals Substances and Regulation of their Manufacturing etc. (Act No. 117 of 1973) – also known as the Chemical Substances Control Act (CSCL).
• Prohibits the manufacture and import of the three persistent organic pollutants (POP) from the fall of 2024.
• Prohibits the use of these three POP chemicals without establishing essential uses.
• Prohibits the importation of specific products that contain dechlorane plus and UV-328 (see Table 1 below).