Preview of Current Asia Pacific HSE News as of 3 April, 2008

Just 3 sub-headings out of 19 of the current Asia Pacific Health, Safety and Environmental news around Asia Pacific. Members are encouraged to log into the Table of Contents to find out more details of the 19 Current HSE News

China 1)         Category of Banned Import Solid Waste, Category of Limited Importing Solid Waste Being Used as Raw Material, and Category of Automatic Importing Solid Waste Being Used as Raw Material Issued on January 29, 2008, and effective from March 1, 2008.

• solid waste should be managed as banned imported solid waste because of losing use value or being abandoned;
• hazardous waste and other waste (collected from houses) as classified in Basel Convention and hazardous waste as identified in Category of National Hazardous Waste or by Hazardous Waste Characterization Standards

Australia - Commonwealth and NSW 1)         Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2008 Gazetted on 22 February 2008 and became effective from 1 March 28, 2008.

• regulates and controls noise from different sources and set community standards for acceptable noise level produced by appliances that are used in households.
• It remakes and updates the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation of 2000.
• address noise from motor vehicles, domestic appliances and vessels through the application of noise abatement technologies and also by effecting behavioural change in New South Wales.

Hong Kong 1) Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill 2008 Published on 6 February 2008.

• • to ensure the implementation of emission caps for the power sector.
  • tightening the emission caps of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and respirable suspended particulates to ensure that Hong Kong can meet the 2010 emission reduction targets as agreed with the Guangdong Provincial Government in April 2002.