Last Updated:	2004-03-31
Report Contents
-   Summary -   Additional Marking Requirements -   Laws & Regulations -   Links -   Contacts

Introduction

A wide-spectrum of packaging materials and containers are covered under the take-back and recycling regime established pursuant to the Waste Disposal Act. This regime administered by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration ("TEPA") and is described further in the Product Take-Back and Recycling section of the Taiwan Country Page. Generally speaking, the take-back and recycling provisions specified under the Waste Disposal Act apply to packaging materials and containers for household uses (i.e., medicinal alcohol, food products, etc.). As such, it is not likely that these items will be of concern to EIA members. Nevertheless, EIA members may wish to contact government officials or legal counsel indicated in this section to discuss the particular nature of the packaging materials or containers at question and the status of such packaging under the Waste Disposal Act recycling regime.

That being said, it is worth noting that TEPA periodically updates recycling fees for post-consumption packaging materials and containers covered under the regime. Details of the current recycling fees for such packaging materials and containers are provided in the "Public Announcement on Recycling Fees for General Wastes [Packaging Materials and Containers Excerpt]."

In the area of labeling, it is also notable that Taiwan has issued measures under the product, packaging, and container take-back and recycling regime established by the Waste Disposal Act that specify labeling requirements for certain batteries and containers. Current labeling requirements for batteries are described under an Administrative Rule on Dry Cell Labeling. Labeling requirements presently in effect for containers are indicated under the Regulations on General Container Recycling Labels and Related Issues.

Specifically with regard to hazardous wastes, labeling and related informational requirements associated with storage of such wastes are indicated under Article 10 of the Storage, Treatment and Disposal Methods and Facility Standards for Industrial Hazardous Wastes ("Methods"). Among other things, the Methods require that hazardous wastes be labeled to indicate the name of the generator, the storage time, and the amount, composition, and nature of the wastes. The Methods are described further in the Hazardous Waste Laws section of the Taiwan Country Page.

Labeling provisions directed at toxic chemical substances are described under Article 9 of the Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act. In particular, Article 9 provides that "toxicity and pollution-control measures" for covered toxic chemical substances must be conspicuously indicated via label or otherwise displayed on toxic chemical substance containers and packaging, and at handling facilities and sites. Further information on the Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act is contained in the Restriction of Substances section of the Taiwan Country Page.

EIA members may also be interested in Taiwan’s voluntary ecolabel or "Green Mark" program as it applies to certain electrical and electronic equipment. TEPA launched the Green Mark program in August 1992. The aims of the program are to:

(1) promote recycling, pollution reduction, and resource conservation practices;

(2) inform consumers about environmentally friendly qualities of products in the program; and

(3) encourage manufacturers to design and supply environmentally sound products.

Rules for the program and related application procedures and enforcement measures are embodied in the Fundamentals for Promoting the Use of the Taiwan Ecolabel ("Fundamentals"). TEPA promulgated these Fundamentals on August, 1992 and began to implement the regulation in February 1993. Thus far, TEPA has formulated Green Mark ("ecolabel") criteria for more than 65 categories of products, including a variety of electrical and electronic products.

The Green Mark Program Review Committee was established under the Fundamentals to evaluate the applications for Green Marks. The Committee is composed of representatives from various governmental agencies, citizen groups, and experts in relevant product areas.

EIA members may be interested to note that the voluntary "Recycling Fee Payment Mark" program, initiated by TEPA on July 1, 1998 with respect to certain computer products, was repealed on April 1, 2001. Generally speaking, TEPA established this program with the aim of providing a basis (i.e., recycling fee payment marks/labels) for TEPA inspectors to readily identifying products for which recycling fees had been paid. The Instructions for Applications to Receive Data Processing Product Recycling Fee Payment Marks describe the requirements of this recently defunct labeling program.