▶ 중국 정부는 어제, 중국의 신규 화학물질 관리 규정인 MEP(Measures for Environmental Administration of New Chemical Substances, 신규 화학물질 환경관리제도) 7호령의 개정안을 승인함.

▶ 해당 법문은 “곧” 게재될 예정이고 본 규정의 이전 2개 개정안과 마찬가지로 10월 15일부터 발효될 것으로 보임. 

▶ 이번 신규 화학물질 환경관리제도 개정안의 최종안(MEP Order 7)은 중국 생태환경부(Ministry of Ecology and Environment, MEE)가 지난 9월에 세계무역기구(World Trade Organization, WTO)에 공지한 초안과 매우 유사함.

▶ 생태환경부는 본 개정안을 국제 표준에 맞춰 조정하고 규제 부담을 줄이기 위한 노력했다고 말함. 또한, 이를 통해 관련 기관의 역할을 명확히 하여 화학물질 관리 효율성을 높이고자 함.

▶ 9월에 발표된 개정안에 따라 (연구개발 목적으로) 연간 100kg 이하로 수입하거나 제조하는 신규 화학물질에 대한 등록 의무는 완전히 사라지게 됨.

▶ 그리고 연간 1~10톤까지의 신규 화학물질은 더 복잡한 ‘일반’ 등록이 아닌 더 간편한 신고절차를 거치면 됨. 중국의 기존 화학물질 목록(Inventory)에 신규 화학물질을 추가하는 절차 또한 더욱 간편하고 간결해짐.

▶ 2019년 초, 생태환경부는 기존 및 신규 화학물질 관리 규정인 환경위해성평가 및 화학물질 관리규정(Environmental Risk Assessment and Control Regulation for Chemical Substances, Erac)의 첫 번째 초안을 새로 발표함.

▶ 환경위해성평가 및 화학물질 관리규정(Erac)이 발효되면, 이는 MEP 7호령을 대체할 예정임.