There is no existing legislation -to our knowledge- in the Asia-Pacific region restricting the use of BFRs.

CHINA

China is currently preparing legislation on waste of electrical and electronic equipment (similar to the European Union WEEE Directive) which is currently been under public consultation by the National Development and Reform Committee. More information available (in Chinese) at http://www.sdpc.gov.cn.

AUSTRALIA

In June 2005 the Australian Ministry for Health and Ageing declared HBCD,TBBPA and Deca-BDE “Priority Existing Chemicals (PECs)”. As PECs, each of these brominated flame retardants will be subject in the near future to an assessment of their potential effects to human health and the environment, which will be conducted by the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS). The Australian authorities are currently compiling from importers and producers information on quantities and use of these substances as well as general scientific information which is already available.