Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances

January 10, 2014

EMB MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 001-14

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 6969, otherwise known as the "Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990" (RA 6969), Section 14, Chapter IV, Title II of DENR Administrative Order No. 29, Series of 1992 otherwise known as the "Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 6969" ("IRR"), and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Department hereby releases the Updated listing of Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances known as the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances. HaTAEc

SECTION I. Definition.—

1. Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS) — is a list of all existing chemical substances which are stored, imported, exported, used, processed, manufactured, or transported in the Philippines. The PICCS contains the Chemical Name and the Chemical Abstract Registry Number (CAS RN) and the CAS Registry Index Names or chemical name in accordance with International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature.

2. Pre-manufacture, Pre-importation Notification (PMPIN) — is a notification process/document for new chemical substances submitted for review to the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR).

3. New Chemical — means any chemical substance imported into or manufactured in the country not included in the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS) as published by the DENR pursuant to this Order.

SECTION II. Objective of the PICCS. —

PICCS was developed to provide the government, industry and the public with a core inventory of all existing unregulated chemicals and chemical substances in the country (industrial chemicals). Section 14 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 6969 requires the Secretary or his duly authorized representative to facilitate the keeping, updating, compilation and maintenance of an inventory of chemical substances which is stored, imported, exported, used, processed, manufactured or transported. The inventory shall contain information relevant to the protection of health and the environment.

It serves as a guide for manufactures and importers of chemicals. Manufacturers and importers do not need to notify and secure clearance from the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR before they manufacture or import chemicals already included in the PICCS, provided that these chemicals are not in the Priority Chemical List (PCL) or regulated by Chemical Control Order (CCO) or chemicals which are already covered or regulated by other laws or legislation. However, manufacturers and importers of various chemical substances regulated by Clean Air Act of 1999 e.g., fuel additive still need to notify and secure clearance under the PMPIN process.

SECTION III. PICCS Database.—

The PICCS is placed into a specially designated computer database at the EMB to facilitate efficient compiling/storage, organizing and managing of the data. An updated listing of the inventory shall be released annually. SEHaTC

The PICCS database in PDF format can also be downloaded from the EMB website: http://emb.gov.ph/chemicals/index.htm.

The PICCS Compact Disc version is available at the EMB and can be obtained by the public and/or industry representative upon submission of a letter of request and payment of a minimum fee of Php300.00 to cover operational expenses.

SECTION IV. Confidential Listing of PICCS. —

The EMB-DENR shall maintain a separate confidential listing of chemicals. Confidentiality may be requested by the person submitting PMPIN. Request for confidentiality of information is subject to the consent of the notifier with interested party(s) through their Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding (MOA/MOU) submitted to the EMB.

SECTION V. Updating of the PICCS. —

Updating of the PICCS shall be conducted annually to include industrial chemicals that have been given PMPIN Compliance Certificate.

SECTION VI. Separability Clause.—

If any portion or provision of this Order is declared unconstitutional or invalid, all other portion of this Order shall remain valid and enforceable.

SECTION VII. Effectivity.—

This Order shall take effect Thirty (30) days after completion of publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and submission of a copy hereof to the Office of the National Registry of the University of the Philippines Law Center in compliance with the Administrative Code of the Philippines (E.O. No. 292). CAScIH

(SGD.) ATTY. JUAN MIGUEL T. CUNA, CESO IVDirectorEnvironmental Management Bureau