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Amendment of the Chemicals Ordinance:
Labelling language:
Currently, certain chemical products must bear labels in two official languages. However, certain products are legally placed on the market in the Italian-speaking regions of the country despite not bearing labels in Italian. In the future, the language selected for the labelling of all chemical products (e.g. phytosanitary, biocidal and household products, and fertilizers) will be the official language of the place of issue of the products.

Procedure for the notification of new substances:
The revision also aims to modernize the procedure for the notification of new substances. Currently, only substances that are not on a list of existing substances (EINECS) must be notified with a defined set of data before being placed on the market. In the future, all substances that are not registered in the European Union must be notified.
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DETEC Ordinance on the Specifications for the Indication of the Energy Consumption and Other Characteristics of Passenger Cars, Delivery Vans and Light Semitrailers (VEE-PLS): This notification informs of the following: In accordance with Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Ordinance of November 1, 2017 (EnEV; SR 730.02), the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) annually adjusts the energy efficiency categories of new passenger cars on the basis of the data survey on the vehicle types offered. On this basis, category limits of the energy label for passenger cars are recalculated annually. The annual reclassification ensures that the vehicles on offer are always divided into seven equally sized categories. In addition, for information on energy consumption, the average CO2 emissions are recalculated annually. DETEC also annually reviews the factors for calculating gasoline equivalents, primary energy gasoline equivalents and CO2 emissions from upstream processes and adapts them to new scientific and technical findings and international developments. Consumers are thus guaranteed that the most energy-efficient vehicles are to be found in category A in each case.

Annexes 2 and 3 of the Ordinance on Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Chemicals Ordinance): The technical regulations for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and preparations will be updated and thus adapted to technical progress in the EU (16th and 17th ATP of the EU CLP Regulation; binding from 1 March 2022) .

This draft revision updates the list of harmonized classifications:
• inclusion of 22 substances;
• amendment of 41 existing entries

With this draft revision, the latest developments in test methods for substances and preparations (OECD) are adopted. Two substances are included in the candidate list of substance of very high concern. This listing triggers information obligations along the supply chain.

Draft Ordinance of the Federal Council concerning amendments to annexes 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.10, 1.16, 2.9, 2.10 und 2.11 of the Ordinance on the Reduction of Risks relating to the Use of Certain Particularly Dangerous Substances, Preparations and Articles (Chemicals Risk Reduction Ordinance, ORRChem, Fedlaw number: SR 814.81):
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The placing on the market of substances that are stable in the atmosphere will, for specific uses, be allowed in refillable containers only. Labeling requirements will be updated to specify containers with reclaimed or recycled substances.
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The placing on the market and use of plastic products containing additives that cause the plastic to break down into fragments (oxo-degradable plastics) will be prohibited.

Existing reporting requirements for stationary systems containing refrigerants will be extended with information requirements specific to heat pumps. The placing on the market of temporary ice-rinks containing a refrigerant with a global warming potential higher than 4000 will be prohibited.

A new exemption will be introduced for the manufacture and placing on the market of foams containing substances with an ozone depletion potential smaller than 0.0005, as well as for the manufacture and placing on the market of articles containing such foams.

Annex 3 of the Ordinance on Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Chemicals Ordinance): Eight substances are included in the candidate list of substance of very high concern. This listing triggers information obligations along the supply chain.

(Chilean Standard (NCh ISO) No. 16.923:2017 "Natural gas fuelling stations - CNG stations for fuelling vehicles": he notified Standard covers the design, construction, operation, inspection and maintenance of stations for fuelling compressed natural gas (CNG) to vehicles, including equipment, safety and control devices. It applies to portions of a fuelling station where natural gas is in a gaseous state and dispensing CNG derived from liquefied natural gas (LCNG) according to ISO 16924.

The notified Standard applies to fuelling stations supplied with natural gas as defined in local applicable gas composition regulations or ISO 13686. It also applies to other gases meeting these requirements including biomethane, upgraded coal-bed methane (CBM) and gas supplies coming from LNG vaporization (on-site or off-site) .
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Approval of the Ministry of the Environment preliminary draft National Strategy on Marine Litter and Microplastics: The preliminary draft National Strategy on Marine Litter and Microplastics has been submitted for consultations. Marine litter, including plastic litter, is a global environmental problem which has an adverse impact on biodiversity and the marine environment, tourism, fishing and marine transport. In light of the above, the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) and the Directorate General of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR) agreed to develop a national strategy on marine litter, together with an action plan.

Preliminary draft emission standard created through the revision of Ministry of the Environment Supreme Decree No. 43 of 2012 establishing the emission standard for regulating light pollution: The notified text seeks to control the emissions from outdoor lighting in order to prevent and control artificial light, thereby protecting the quality of the night sky and biodiversity, particularly in the Special Protection Areas indicated in the text.

Conditions and requirements for the authorization of semiochemicals for pest control: The notified measure concerns a specific draft regulation establishing the conditions and requirements for the assessment and authorization of semiochemicals according to their particular characteristics and nature. Semiochemicals are chemical compounds or mixtures of chemical compounds released by plants, animals and other organisms, which trigger a response in the behaviour or physiology of organisms of the same or another species, and include allelochemicals and pheromones. This measure will contribute to the availability of quality inputs, by strengthening and expanding the spectrum for phytosanitary control, while contributing to the sustainable and competitive development of Chile's agriculture.

Technical specifications for the design of energy efficiency labels for household lamps: The technical specifications for the design of energy efficiency labels for household lamps are an update of the currently valid labels and aim to provide consumers with information when selecting this type of product, taking account of technological advances in development. With regard to the development of the proposal, account has been taken of international experience, currently valid energy efficiency labels, and protocols in force in Chile.