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Top global EHS regulatory changes – January 2023

Jonathan Brun

Here are a few noteworthy global EHS regulatory changes in January 2023. We cover EHS legislation and standards for over 100 countries and 200 jurisdictions. If you would like to track legislative changes for specific regions, countries, or jurisdictions, we are happy to help. Please send us a request for more information here, and we will contact you shortly.

Canada – Federal

Amended Document – Hazardous Products Regulations
Amending Document – Regulations Amending the Hazardous Products Regulations (GHS, Seventh Revised Edition)

First Effective Date: 15 December 2022
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document is aligned “with the seventh revised edition of the [United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)].”

Important changes include “modifications to several definitions, the adoption of a new hazard category for non-flammable aerosols and new subcategories for Flammable Gases, the addition of a new test procedure for Oxidizing Solids, and modifications to Schedule 1 of the [document] to update the information elements required to be provided on safety data sheets.” A new physical hazard class, Chemicals Under Pressure, is adopted. Finally, various technical amendments address “clarifications and modifications to existing provisions relating to the classification of hazardous products in the physical and health hazard classes, […] clarifications and adjustments with regard to hazard communication elements required on labels and safety data sheets, as well as administrative updates.”

Canada – Alberta

Amended Document – Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation
Amending Document – Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Amendment Regulation

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document notably—

  • includes facilities that import more than 10,000 tonnes of hydrogen in 2023 or subsequent years within the definition of “large emitter” and subsequently makes such facilities subject to the rules;
  • lowers the minimum emission threshold for opt-in facilities in an emissions-intensive trade-exposed sector from 10,000 carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) tonnes to 2,000 CO2e tonnes;
  • establishes various rules concerning the use of sequestration credit and its conversion into capture recognition tonne;
  • amends various rules concerning and equations for calculating allowable emissions and net emissions for various types of facilities;
  • updates the maximum limit to use emissions offsets, emission performance credits, and sequestration credits by regulated facilities in a given year (60% in 2023, 70% in 2024, 80% in 2025 and 90% in 2026 and any subsequent year);
  • updates rules concerning high-performance benchmarks; and
  • amends various opt-in facility application rules.

According to Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, the changes “bring the [Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction] regime in line with the minimum federal standards.”

New Principal Document – Metallic and Industrial Minerals Tenure Regulation

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: Mining & Minerals Industry

This document, according to the government, “sets out the requirements for obtaining and maintaining tenure agreements (permits, licences, leases) for metallic and industrial minerals.” It also “provides specific tenure requirements for the two types of metallic and industrial minerals – rock-hosted and brine-hosted.”

It replaces the Metallic and Industrial Minerals Tenure Regulation.

Additional information is available here.

Canada – Manitoba

Amended Document – Non-Essential Pesticide Use Regulation
Amending Document – Non-Essential Pesticide Use Regulation, amendment

First Effective Date: 21 December 2022
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

The amended document removes the requirements applicable to the sale of prescribed pesticides.

Canada – Quebec

Amended Document – Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere
Amending Document – Regulation to amend the Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Air Transportation Industry

The amended document notably—

  • relaxes the frequency of required visits to certain emitters’ establishments or enterprises as a part of greenhouse gas emission report verification;
  • “[updates the] default greenhouse gas emission factors for Canadian provinces and certain North American markets”;
  • amends the protocols concerning the methods for the estimation of missing sampling or measurement data required for the calculation of emissions and “the specific information to be reported by fuel distributors”;
  • makes various changes to harmonize the reporting requirements with the Regulation respecting a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances;
  • “[provides for] mandatory reporting for emitters registered in the cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances on the basis of a demonstration that the threshold for voluntary registration in the system under the Regulation respecting a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances will be reached or exceeded”; and
  • “extends the period during which an emitter must report emissions where the emitter has applied […] to remain registered in the cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances despite the fact that the emissions have been below the reporting threshold for 4 consecutive years.”

Additional information is available here.

Amended Document – Regulation respecting occupational health and safety
Amending Document – Regulation to amend the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety

First Effective Date: 25 July 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document updates rules concerning work in confined spaces. It notably—

  • updates the definition of “confined space” to clarify that such spaces present a risk of asphyxia, loss of consciousness, fire or explosion, a risk of being buried, or a risk of drowning;
  • introduces rules for the layout of new and renovated confined spaces concerning accessibility for intervention and alternatives;
  • clarifies that workers must be aged 18 or over to be considered qualified to work in an enclosed area;
  • updates the list of information that must be available in writing on the work premise before any work or task is performed in a confined space;
  • requires that the above-mentioned list of information be conveyed and explained to workers before they enter a confined space;
  • increases the minimum allowable concentration of oxygen and reduces the maximum allowable concentration of inflammable gases or vapours present in the atmosphere of a confined space to 20.5% and 5%, respectively, before a worker may enter the space;
  • requires readings of oxygen concentration and inflammable gases and vapours and contaminants to be made when certain atmospheric risks are identified and likely to affect the internal atmosphere of the confined space;
  • introduces additional requirements for persons attending to (supervising) workers present in confined spaces;
  • introduces additional requirements for rescue plans, such that it includes a call and communication protocol, that it be adapted to the specific conditions of the work and confined space, that rescue workers be trained on the plans, and that the plan be tested;
  • introduce rules for when a worker must enter a confined space used to store free-flow solid materials to prevent them from falling or being buried by the materials; and
  • introduce additional rules for when a worker must enter a confined space where there is a risk of drowning.

United States – Federal

New Principal Document – 54 USC 1201 National Heritage Area System

First Effective Date: 5 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Public Administration & Institutions

This document establishes a National Heritage Area System. It sets out the duties of the government and interested parties for conducting studies of sites’ suitability and feasibility for designation and the required content of such studies. It also authorizes funding for the preservation of designated areas.

Amended Document – Definition of Waters of the United States
Amending Document – Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”

First Effective Date: 20 March 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document updates the definition of “waters of the United States” to include—

  • “traditional navigable waters, the territorial seas, and interstate waters” (herein, “navigable waters”);
  • “impoundments of ‘waters of the United States'” (herein, “impoundments”);
  • “tributaries to traditional navigable waters, the territorial seas, interstate waters, or [impoundments] when the tributaries meet either the relatively permanent standard or the significant nexus standard” (herein, “jurisdictional tributaries”);
  • “wetlands adjacent to [navigable waters]; wetlands adjacent to and with a continuous surface connection to relatively permanent [impoundments] or jurisdictional tributaries when the wetlands meet the significant nexus standard (‘jurisdictional adjacent wetlands’)”; and
  • “intrastate lakes and ponds, streams, or wetlands not identified [above] that meet either the relatively permanent standard or the significant nexus standard.”

For clarity, the “relatively permanent standard” refers to “permanent, standing or continuously flowing waters connected to [navigable waters],” and the “significant nexus standard” refers to “waters that, either alone or in combination with similarly situated waters in the region, significantly affect the chemical, physical, or biological integrity of traditional navigable waters, the territorial seas, or interstate waters.”

United States – California

New Edition – CCR Part 24-2 2022 California Building Code

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document, according to the International Code Council, contains “general building design and construction requirements relating to fire and life safety, structural safety, and access compliance” and that it provides “minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property, and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and certain equipment.”

This edition updates various provisions relating to building standards, including provisions concerning tall wood/mass timber, occupancy classification and use, special detailed requirements, general building heights and areas, materials and construction methods, fire protection system, accessibility, interior environment, exterior walls, structural design, special inspections and tests, soils and foundations, building materials, electrical, special construction, and public swimming pools. It also updates the scope and administrative provisions and the referenced standards.

New Edition – CCR Part 24-3 2022 California Electrical Code

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management & Maintenance

This document, according to its content, applies to “the installation and removal of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical fiber cables for:

  • “public and private premises, including buildings, structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings”;
  • “yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substations”;
  • “installations of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity”;
  • “installations used by the electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and recreational buildings, that are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation, or control center”;
  • “installations supplying shore power to ships and watercraft in marinas and boatyards, including monitoring of leakage current”; and
  • “installations used to export electric power from vehicles to premises wiring or for bidirectional current flow.”

This edition notably adopts, with amendments, the 2020 National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association.

New Edition – CCR Part 24-4 2022 California Mechanical Code

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document sets out provisions for the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition to, use, or maintenance of mechanical systems.

This edition updates various provisions concerning permit administration, air filtration and ventilation, duct systems, installation of specific appliances, refrigeration, and hydronics.

New Edition – CCR Part 24-5 2022 California Plumbing Code

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document, according to its content, regulates the “erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition to, use, or maintenance of plumbing systems.”

This edition notably updates various provisions concerning permit administration, plumbing fixtures and fixture fittings, water heaters and water supply and distribution, health care facilities and medical gas vacuum systems, and alternate water sources for non-potable applications. It also provides an update to a referenced standard, notably by adding ANSI/AAMI reference standard for water treatment equipment for hemodialysis applications.

New Edition – CCR Part 24-9 2022 California Fire Code

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management & Maintenance

This document covers safety measures for addressing fire and explosions; the storage, handling, and use of hazardous materials and devices; and hazardous conditions in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises.

This edition updates provisions concerning permit administration, emergency planning and preparedness, fire protection and life safety systems, temporary special event structures and other membrane structures, wildland-urban interface fire areas, and certain referenced standards.

New Edition – CCR Part 24-11 2022 California Green Building Standards Code

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document, according to the International Code Council, provides “regulations for energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency, environmental quality, and more.” It applies “to the planning, design, operation, construction, use and occupancy of every newly constructed building or structure.”

Additional information concerning all of the above updates to California codes is available here.

United States – Indiana

Amended Document – IAC Article 329-15 Waste Tire Management
Amending Document – Final Rule LSA Document #17-279(F)

First Effective Date: 28 December 2022
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document contains changes that broadly affect rules concerning waste tire management and the legitimate use of waste tires. Notably, it—

  • updates the rules’ applicability to include waste tire processing operations, those who use waste tires for legitimate use, and “other sources” and update the list of exempted facilities and activities;
  • establishes additional requirements for owners and operators of waste tire storage sites and processing operations (herein referred to as “subject facilities”) concerning passenger tire equivalents (PTEs);
  • updates the submission method for and list of information to be included in an application for a certificate of registration for subject facilities and waste tire transporters;
  • clarifies rules concerning the transferability of certificates of registration for subject facilities;
  • updates various operational requirements for subject facilities, including those concerning emergency preparedness and allowable numbers of PTEs that may be stored;
  • clarifies the rules’ applicability concerning mobile waste tire processing operations and establishes specific requirements for their contingency plans;
  • updates various recordkeeping requirements;
  • introduces recordkeeping requirements concerning PTE inventories;
  • updates various financial requirements (such as assurance, closure cost estimates, insurance, and performance bonds) for waste tire storage sites; and
  • introduces specific rules governing the legitimate use (as defined) of waste tires, including rules concerning preapproved legitimate uses, applications for legitimate use, storage, processing, transportation, and disposal of tires, and recordkeeping.

Amended Document – IAC Article 335-4 Pesticide Use And Application
Amending Document – Final Rule LSA Document #22-266(F)

First Effective Date: 4 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document notably⁠—

  • sets out the list of activities that must be performed by a licensed commercial or permitted private pesticide applicator;
  • establishes training requirements for private applicators based on the substance being applied;
  • introduces additional certification requirements for certain commercial applicators;
  • includes unmanned aerial vehicles as a method of Category 11 Aerial pesticide application;
  • sets out the required qualifications for licensed commercial applicators who are supervising noncertified individuals’ work;
  • introduces an alternative method to become a registered technician;
  • updates recordkeeping requirements for commercial applicators, private applicators, and restricted pesticide dealers; and
  • adds new disclosure requirements for commercial applicators who apply termite control pesticide products.

United States – Massachusetts

Amended Document – CMR 310-36 Massachusetts Water Resources Management Program
Amending Document – CMR 310-36 Massachusetts Water Resources Management Program 2023-01-20 Amendments

First Effective Date: 20 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

According to the government, the amended document adds “a new condition on [Water Management Act</a> (WMA)] water withdrawal registrants requiring them to restrict nonessential outdoor water use or, in the case of those who supply water to other users, adopt enforceable restrictions on nonessential outdoor water use by their customers during times of drought”. It also adjusts “the expiration date schedule upon which all WMA permits in each water source (river basin) in Massachusetts will expire.”

United States – New Jersey

New Principal Document – NJAC Chapter 7-27F Control and Prohibition of Carbon Dioxide Emissions

First Effective Date: 3 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document, according to its content, “establishes the criteria that shall govern and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels.” It contains permitting, reporting & recordkeeping, emissions limitations, and monitoring & compliance provisions for fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs) and EGU facilities. It also establishes carbon standards for fuels used and sold within the state, with certain exceptions.

Additional information is available here.

United States – New York

New Principal Document – NYCRR Part 6-I-F-39 Marine Licenses and Permits – Definitions and Uniform Procedures

First Effective Date: 18 January 2023
Industry Sector: Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Industry

This document describes the processes for issuance, re-issuance, surrender, designation, and revocation of certain marine resources licenses and permits.

Amended Document – NYCL Title ENV-37-1 Substances Hazardous to the Environment
Amending Document – AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting cosmetic products and personal care products that contain mercury

First Effective Date: 1 June 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management & Maintenance

The amended document prohibits the sale or offer for sale of any cosmetic product or personal care product containing mercury.

United States – Texas

Amended Document – TAC Chapter 30-113 Standards of Performance for Hazardous Air Pollutants and for Designated Facilities and Pollutants
Amending Document – TAC Chapter 30-113 Standards of Performance for Hazardous Air Pollutants and for Designated Facilities and Pollutants 2022-12-30 Amendments

First Effective Date: 5 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document, according to the government, “[incorporates] by reference changes that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made to a number of existing National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Source Categories, under 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 63“. The changes affect various maximum achievable control technology (MACT) and generally available control technology (GACT) standards and notably⁠—

  • “[allow] a ‘major source’ of [hazardous air pollutants (HAP)] to reclassify as an ‘area source’ at any time after acting to limit emissions below the qualifying threshold”;
  • codify the policy “which made all major source designations permanent regardless of whether emission reductions lowered facility emissions of HAP to less than major source thresholds”;
  • remove “the date limitation after which a major source cannot become an area source”;
  • “clarify and update work practice standards, compliance dates, recordkeeping, monitoring, reporting, and notification, including electronic notification”; and
  • revise “some standards […] in order to remove startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM)-related affirmative defence provisions.”

European Union

New Principal Document – Council Regulation (EU) 2022/2577 of 22 December 2022 laying down a framework to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy

First Effective Date: 30 December 2022
Industry Sector: Utilities & Communications Industry

This document, according to its content, “establishes temporary rules of an emergency nature to accelerate the permit-granting process applicable to the production of energy from renewable energy sources, with a particular focus on specific renewable energy technologies or types of projects which are capable of achieving a short term acceleration of the pace of deployment of renewables in the Union.”

In particular, it includes provisions to expedite the permitting process for the installation of solar energy systems, the repowering of renewable energy plants, renewable energy projects and related grid infrastructure needed to integrate renewable energy into the system, and the deployment of heat pumps.

Additional information is available here.

Austria

New Principal Document – Nitrate Action Program Ordinance

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: Agriculture Industry

This document, according to its content, establishes rules for the reduction of water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources, and for the prevention of further water pollution of this type, including rules for the application and spreading of nitrogenous fertilizers on agricultural land, waterlogged, flooded, frozen or snow-covered soils, the relevant restriction, the capacity and construction of tanks for the storage of manure, as well as operational record obligations, special requirements for water monitoring.

Belgium

New Principal Document – Law for the protection of the marine environment and the organization of the management of Belgian marine areas

First Effective Date: 26 December 2022
Industry Sector: General Industry

This document applies to any company operating in a marine environment. It establishes a wide variety of obligations regarding such environments, including a general obligation to take precautions to prevent marine pollution, an obligation to obtain a permit for certain marine business activities, and an obligation to pay for any damage caused to marine environments.

It replaces the Law for the protection of the marine environment and the organization of the management of marine areas under the jurisdiction of Belgium.

Additional information is available here (French only).

Brazil

New Principal Document – IBAMA Normative Instruction Nº 20, of December 16, 2022 Provides for the requirements and procedures related to the import control of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons – HCFC and mixtures containing HCFC, as well as establishing their respective maximum annual import limits in ODP tons (ozone destruction potential), in compliance with Decision XIX/6 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Article 4B of Decree No. 5,280, of November 22, 2004, and the Brazilian Program for the Elimination of HCFCs established by Ordinance MMA No. 212, of June 26 from 2012

First Effective Date: 2 January 2023
Industry Sector: Chemical Industry

This document primarily pertains to importers of ozone-depleting substances. As stated in its title, it covers the conditions and procedures for importing the aforementioned materials, including Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and mixtures containing HCFCs, as well as the maximum yearly import limitations.

New Principal Document – IBAMA Ordinance Nº 164, of December 28, 2022 Establishes the thematic and conceptual scope of Ibama’s work in the Remediation of Contaminated Areas

First Effective Date: 2 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Public Administration & Institutions

This document mainly concerns the remediation of contaminated areas. According to its content, this document notably covers the management and functions of the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) in the aforementioned remediation efforts, which includes the participation of different public or private actors and their respective responsibilities, such as the registration requirements for chemical remediation and dispersant products used to control contamination.

Denmark

New Principal Document – Executive Order on sustainability and saving of greenhouse gas emissions for biomass fuels and liquid biofuels for energy purposes, etc.

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document applies to companies using biomass fuels, importers and producers of wood pellets, wood briquettes and firewood for energy purposes, as well as verifiers conducting independent inspections. Notably, it covers sustainability requirements, requirements for greenhouse gas emissions, and related documentation and reporting obligations.

It replaces the Executive order on sustainability and saving of greenhouse gas emissions for biomass fuels and liquid biofuels for energy purposes, etc. The new document mostly covers the same ground as its predecessor concerning the sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the use of biomass fuels and liquid biofuels. It includes revisions that focus on modifying the structure and language of the rules to improve clarity. In addition, it adds requirements for companies to minimize methane losses and establishes requirements for self-monitoring programs to avoid methane losses.

New Principal Document – Executive Order on placing electrical and electronic equipment on the market and handling waste from such equipment (Electronic Waste Order)

First Effective Date: 5 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management & Maintenance

This document mainly sets out requirements for the placement of electrical and electronic equipment on the market and rules for the collection and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment waste. It requires manufacturers to maintain a register and to send certain reports to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.

It replaces the Executive Order on placing electrical and electronic equipment on the market and handling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The new document mostly covers the same ground as its predecessor with regard to electrical and electronic equipment. It comprises amendments that are focused on improving the rules’ clarity in terms of their structure and language, adding clauses that respect the self-control obligations for producers and collective schemes, and updating the lists of covered electrical and electronic equipment.

France

New Principal Document – Order of November 10, 2022 establishing the list of marine turtles protected on the national territory and the terms of their protection

First Effective Date: 7 December 2022
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document applies to activities related to marine turtles or their habitat, including hunting, trapping, transporting, or selling marine turtles or their eggs, selling a product made from a marine turtle, or disturbing a marine turtle habitat. The document establishes prohibitions on certain such activities and sets out the procedure (if any) for obtaining an exemption from the prohibition. It also requires any accidental capture of a marine turtle to be declared to a government registry.

New Principal Document – Environmental Code Articles D542-74 to D542-99: National Plan for the Management of Radioactive Materials and Wastes

First Effective Date: 11 December 2022
Industry Sector: General Industry, Other Industry

This document applies to companies which produce or manage radioactive materials or radioactive wastes. It sets out obligations of such companies relating generally to the National Plan for the Management of Radioactive Materials and Wastes, including obligations to follow certain deadlines, obligations to provide various pieces of information to the government including information regarding storage capacity and operational costs, and obligations to create certain strategic planning documents.

Additional information is available here (French only).

Germany

New Principal Document – Ordinance on emissions reporting according to the Fuel Emissions Trading Act for the years 2023 to 2030 (Emissions Reporting Ordinance 2030 – EBeV 2030)

First Effective Date: 31 December 2022
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document establishes the requirements for companies reporting emissions for the specified years, as indicated in its title. It also contains rules for measuring and monitoring fuel emissions, as well as rules for managing associated data.

Amended Document – Ordinance for the determination of minimum requirements for energetic measures for buildings used for own residential purposes according to § 35c of the Income Tax Act (Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance – ESanMV)
Amending Document – Second ordinance to amend the Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance (2. ESanMVÄndV kaAbk. )

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

The amended document makes changes concerning the technical synchronicity for tax reduction for energy-related measures in buildings used for residential purposes under § 35c of the Income Tax Act (EStG). It updates the minimum technical requirements for energy-related building renovation measures, specifically by removing subsidies for gas-powered heat pumps, gas condensing technology, and gas hybrid heating systems as well as subsidies conditions for certain building and heating networks. It also implements changes to seasonal space heating efficiency and biomass heating systems, such as updating certain emission limits for biomass plants.

Amended Document – Construction Site Ordinance
Amending Document – First ordinance to amend the construction site ordinance (1. BaustellVÄndV kaAbk. )

First Effective Date: 1 April 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

The amended document modifies necessary occupational health and safety measures relating to changes in the execution of the construction project, such as the assembly or dismantling design of heavy solid building parts, which is one of the particularly hazardous work, and the requirements for responsible persons, such as sending advance notices to the employer under the defined circumstances.

It also clarifies the definition of “particularly hazardous work” by updating certain references with regard to biological substances and hazardous substances.

Additional information about the ordinance-making process and its background is available here.

Ireland

Amended Document – European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014
Amending Document – European Union (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

The amended document eliminates the option of self-compliance with a local authority for the recovery of packaging and packaging waste for the major producers who generate a specific amount of packaging, and the major producers are now required to be members of an approved body.

Mexico

Amended Document – Regulation of the General Law for the Control of Tobacco
Amending Document – Decree by which various provisions of the Regulations of the General Law for Tobacco Control are Amended, Added and Repealed

First Effective Date: 15 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management & Maintenance

The amended document notably— <

  • adds and modifies certain definitions regarding the control, marketing, packaging and health surveillance of tobacco products (e.g., the definition of “occupationally exposed personnel”, “corporate social responsibility” and “point of sale”);
  • eliminates smoking areas in some places (e.g., all workplaces, public transportation, and places of public assembly) and require that exclusive smoking areas be located only outdoors;
  • extends protection against smoke and emissions from all tobacco and nicotine products; and
  • restricts all forms of advertising and direct and indirect display of tobacco or nicotine products at points of sale.

Peru

New Principal Document – Supreme Decree No. 018-2022-TR Supreme Decree that approves the specific protocols for monitoring the health of workers in the construction sector

First Effective Date: 10 February 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management & Maintenance

This document applies to employers in the construction industry. According to its content, this document essentially outlines the procedures and requirements for the surveillance of construction workers exposed to physical, biological, chemical, ergonomic, and psychosocial risk factors.

Poland

New Principal Document – Regulation of the Minister of Family and Social Policy of December 9, 2022 on the statistical card of accidents at work

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Office Spaces, Building Management & Maintenance

This document is addressed mainly to employers and contains the form of the statistical accident card to be used by employers to report accidents at work to the competent statistical office. It also specifies the method and deadlines for the preparation and submission of said statistical accident card.

Additional information is available here (Polish only).

New Principal Document – Regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment of December 28, 2022 on the mechanical and biological treatment of unsorted (mixed) municipal waste

First Effective Date: 24 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry, Building Management & Maintenance

This document, according to its content, lays forth the rules regarding the mechanical and biological processing of mixed, unsorted municipal waste, the operation of the facilities where such processing is carried out, and the handling of waste that results from said process.

Singapore

New Principal Document – Air Navigation (Carbon Emissions and Reporting) Regulations 2022

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: Air Transportation Industry

This document applies to airline companies offering international flights to and from Singapore. It establishes an obligation for such companies to register with the government, and to make yearly reports on their carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and the quality of the data relating thereto.

Sweden

New Principal Document – The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency regulations on the transport of dangerous goods by road and in terrain

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

This document establishes a comprehensive regime regulating the transport of dangerous substances by road, including rules regarding the manufacture and maintenance of the transport and storage equipment, rules regarding specific kinds of dangerous substances, and training and handling requirements for the persons handling the dangerous substances.

It replaces The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s regulations on the transport of dangerous goods by road and off-road.

New Principal Document – The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency regulations on the transport of dangerous goods on rail

First Effective Date: 1 January 2023
Industry Sector: General Industry

This document establishes a comprehensive regime regulating the transport of dangerous substances by rail, including rules regarding the manufacture and maintenance of the transport and storage equipment, rules regarding specific kinds of dangerous substances, and training and handling requirements for the persons handling the dangerous substances.

It replaces The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s regulations on the transport of dangerous goods by rail.

United Kingdom

New Principal Document – The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022

First Effective Date: 10 January 2023
Industry Sector: Water Transportation Sector

According to the Government of the United Kingdom, “[t]he Regulations specify mandatory standards of competence, and training and certification requirements for seafarers on board merchant ships and make provision to ensure the safe manning of ships in UK waters.” These Regulations also outline the responsibilities of ship owners, masters, and other parties involved in their operation, such as the safe manning of ships and watchkeeping for ships carrying dangerous cargo.

It replaces The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2015.

International Standards

New Edition – NFPA 460: Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Services at Airports

First Effective Date: 27 October 2022
Industry Sector: Air Transportation Industry

This Standard contains minimum requirements for aircraft rescue and firefighting services (ARFF). It establishes criteria for authorities’ continued proficiency and test procedures for foam firefighting equipment on ARFF vehicles. It consolidates various older existing standards that address personal protective equipment, emergency communication procedures, airport familiarization, safety management, cargo hazards, vehicles & equipment, extinguishing agents, evacuation procedures, rescue and firefighting operations, water rescues, emergency plans & medical services, performance criteria, and safety training.

This edition consolidates various standards, including NFPA 405: Standard for the Recurring Proficiency of Airport Fire Fighters, NFPA 412: Standard for Evaluating Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Foam Equipment, and NFPA 403: Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Services at Airports. It notably updates “several definitions for clarification and to reflect current use and practices” and “recurrent training requirements to be better aligned with initial training requirements and to ensure individuals are able to demonstrate their skills,” provides “guidance and clarification on the positioning of aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles at air shows, clarifies that foam testing requirements are for “foam production capabilities of ARFF apparatus,” and replaces references to the term “halogenated agents” and “clean agents”.

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  • Receive alerts when applicable documents change or new ones get introduced.

Clause-Level Compliance Obligations

  • Access specific requirements in over 200,000 EHS regulations, standards and guidelines for global jurisdictions on our easy-to-use software, NimonikApp.
  • Receive alerts when the specific applicable requirements change or new ones get introduced.
  • Use the specific requirements as audit protocols to assess your compliance.

Audit and Inspection Software

  • Assess your compliance to industry standards, corporate policies, customer requests or any other set of requirements with our robust mobile and web auditing app, Nimonik Audit.

We promise:

  • accuracy and comprehensiveness of our regulatory content
  • rapid publication of regulatory changes
  • easy-to-use software
  • exceptional customer support
  • state of the art IT security

Contact us to discuss how you can achieve comprehensive compliance.