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2008/SOM3/SCSC/CONF/024

Singapore’s Initiatives to Support Industries for RoHS and REACH

Submitted by: Singapore

7th Conference on Standards and ConformanceCusco, Peru

10-11 August 2008

Presentation Title

Singapore's Initiatives to Support Industries for RoHS and REACH11 August 2008 7th SCSC Conference, Cusco, Peru

Rachel ChoyManager, Quality Assurance (Services) SPRING Singapore

Outline

• SPRING Singapore • Export Technical Assistance Centre (ETAC) • REACH and Singapore Industries• RoHS and Singapore Industries• Future Directions

Presentation Title

Vision, Mission, Strategic Thrusts and Roles

To enhance the competitiveness of enterprises for a vibrant Singapore economy

Strategic Thrusts Nurture a pro-

business environment

Nurture a pro-business

environment

Champion industry

development

Champion industry

development

Build enterprise

capabilities

Build enterprise

capabilities

Improve access to

markets and business

opportunities

Improve access to

markets and business

opportunities

Mission

Vision

National Body for SME Development, Standards & Conformance National Body for SME Development, Standards & Conformance

Dynamic and Innovative Singapore Enterprises

Roles

Export Technical Assistance Centre (ETAC)

Objectives(1/2)• Assistance with technical barriers & problems• Maintain database of information on standards & export requirements

•Track changes & developments in international standards & market-specific technical regulations

• Analyse & assess impact of critical changes to industry- needs for process changes- testing & certification requirements

Presentation Title

Export Technical Assistance Centre (ETAC)

Objectives (2/2)• Disseminate critical information on timely basis • Industry participation at international & regional meetings

- keep updated- influence standards- link up with experts

• Policy inputs for FTA negotiations

Key initiatives• Promote awareness & adoption

-Outreach programmes- Industry compliance programmes-Updates on export requirements in specific sectors & markets

• Identify & nurture testing & certification needs- Testing & certificate services related to export requirements

• Strategic participation in international & regional fora

Export Technical Assistance Centre (ETAC)

Presentation Title

Export Technical Assistance Centre (ETAC)

Target Sectors• Food• Electrical and Electronic Equipment• Increasing wave of environmental-related technical regulations

Environmental-related Regulations • The Waste in Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

Directive• The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)• The Energy using Products (EuP) Directive• The Battery Directive• Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation

Presentation Title

REACH and Singapore Industries

How are Singapore Exporters Affected?

EU ImporterSingapore ExporterECHA

Substances, preparations, articlesRegistration

• Chemical & Related industries (Over 500 companies)• Over 140 different types of chemical products (includes chemical preparations)

exported to the EU • (Value: S$11 billion, 23% of all exports to the EU in 2007)

• Electrical & Electronics (Over 3,000 companies)• Value: S$23 billion, 50% of all exports to the EU in 2006

Only Rep

Presentation Title

How are Singapore Importers Affected?

Singapore Importer

EU Exporter/Manufacturer

ECHA

Substances, preparations, articlesRegistration

Import of chemical & chemical products from the EUValue: S$6.26 billion in 2007

REACH Challenges for Singapore Companies • REACH impact study carried out in 2007

- Online survey targeted at chemical and allied industriesKey Findings:

– Critical lack of awareness and understanding of REACH– Awareness limited to those in chemical clusters – Companies in non-chemical sectors eg: plastics, rubber & electrical & electronics likely to be affected but unaware of obligations and impact on their businesses

• Other Challenges-Customer requirements for REACH registered products within the supply chain-Exporters to the EU or downstream users may be required to bear some of the associated costs-Need to communicate with EU suppliers to ensure that they will pre-register and register the substance supplied to the company-Ensure uses are covered within the registration if products are exported back to the EU

Presentation Title

REACHing out to Singapore Enterprises • Awareness & Education Programmes

• Conference/Seminars/Workshops• REACH updates via alert service & SPRING/ETAC website• REACH Guidebook – “Complying with REACH: A Guide for SMEs”

• Direct Assistance to the Industry• General REACH assistance via ETAC Advisory

• REACH through Agencies & Industry Associations• Partnership with

- Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC): Chemical Industries- Singapore Manufacturer’s Federation (SMa): Broad-base Industries

• Industry Round Table on REACH - Outreach through other sectoral industry associations

eg: Cosmetics Toilet Fragrances Association of Singapore (CTFAS), Association of Electronics Industries in Singapore (AEIS)

• Setting up of an REACH Assistance Mechanism • Provide support to Singapore enterprises who need carry out pre-registration,

registration & REACH related activities• Exploring with local industry associations & other govt agencies

RoHS and Singapore Industries

Presentation Title

High Preparedness

Higher risk

Lower risk

• 2nd tier and below suppliers, e.g.

•Fabricated metal

•Cables & wires

•Electronic assemblies / components

•Mechanical supplies e.g. screws

80% ~ 3000 companies (majority SMEs)

•Original Equipment Manufacturers / Brand owners (usually MNCs)

•1st tier suppliers to these OEMs

10%~ 400 companies

•General supplies

•Packaging

•Labels

10% ~ 400 companies

Low Preparedness

How are Singapore Exporters Affected?

•Technical challenges• Finding suitable material substitutes• Product quality and reliability issues

• Lack of Compliance Management System• Quality & supply chain management• Documentation maintenance

• Difficulties in Understanding Requirements

• Challenges in Demonstrating RoHS Compliance• No standard format for self-declaration• Financial burden of testing for restricted substances

• Differing Compliance Requirements• Lack of harmonisation amongst regulations of different countries• Evolving regulatory requirements• Differing customer requirements

RoHS Challenges for Singapore Exporters

Presentation Title

Helping Singapore Companies with RoHS

• Awareness & Education Programmes• Conference/Seminars/Workshops• RoHS updates via alert service & SPRING/ETAC website• RoHS Guidebook – “Complying with RoHS: A Guide for SMEs”

• Direct Assistance to the Industry• General RoHS assistance via ETAC Advisory • RoHS Supplier Directory: provide a source of contacts to facilitate procurement

of RoHS compliant supplies

• RoHS through Agencies & Industry Associations• Partnership with

- Singapore Manufacturer’s Federation (SMa)- External partners for latest updates on RoHS

Future Directions• Continued Assistance to Industries on Export Technical Regulations

– To date, ETAC has assisted & reached out to over 680 Singapore companies for RoHS & REACH

• Monitoring Developments in REACH and RoHS trends worldwide– Update on these developments to affected industries – Development of industry specific outreach & compliance assistance

programmes

• Continued Partnerships with Domestic Agencies, Industry Associations & International Networks

– Enable effective outreach & development of appropriate strategies to aid impacted industries

– Platform for industry to raise issues through Ministry of Trade & Industry

Presentation Title

Thank You

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