On February 27, 2025, Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) announced a public consultation on proposals to strengthen the control of the pesticides chlorpyrifos, paraquat, and paraquat salts. These proposals are based on the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations (EPM(HS) Regs). The consultation, lasting four weeks until March 27, 2025, aims to assess the impact of the new regulations on the industry, the environment, and public health, and to ensure alignment with international chemical management conventions.
International Convention Background
As a party to the Rotterdam Convention and the Stockholm Convention, Singapore is obliged to fulfill its international commitments:
Rotterdam Convention: Through the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure, the convention ensures the right to information and risk management of hazardous chemicals. In September 2024, the Chemical Review Committee (CRC) determined that chlorpyrifos, paraquat and paraquat salts, met the criteria for inclusion in the control list. The proposals will be reviewed at the Conference of the Parties (COP-12) in April 2025, and if approved, the PIC procedure could be implemented as early as October 2025.
Stockholm Convention: In September 2024, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) recognized chlorpyrifos as highly toxic to aquatic life and mammals, recommending its inclusion in the ban list (Annex A), albeit with certain exemptions. If the proposal is approved, the production and use of chlorpyrifos will be phased out starting May 2026.
Domestic Regulatory Adjustments
- Expanded Control Scope: Current regulations exempt certain concentrations and formulations of chlorpyrifos and paraquat. The new rules will eliminate all exemptions and categorize chlorpyrifos as a specific hazardous substance (HS) independent from phosphorus compounds.
- Licensing Requirements: Businesses will need to apply for an HS permit from the NEA to continue manufacturing, importing, transporting, storing, purchasing, selling, or using these chemicals.
- Timeline: The revised regulations will be announced in May 2025 and officially take effect in October 2025.
Request for Feedback
The NEA urges the public to submit comments on the following topics:
- The impact of comprehensive HS control on industries such as agriculture, chemicals, and trade;
- The compliance challenges of the PIC procedure for cross-border transport;
- The reasonableness and operability of the exemption clauses under the chlorpyrifos ban.
The NEA emphasizes that the proposal aims to reduce the long-term risks of hazardous chemicals to ecology and health, while mitigating industry impacts through transition periods and exemption mechanisms. The final policy will integrate public feedback and international convention resolutions and will be finalized in May 2025. Businesses shall closely monitor regulatory developments and plan their supply chains and alternatives in advance to cope with the upcoming regulatory changes.
Further Information
