Origin

As technology advances, the chemical industry and technology development has been enhanced, and the global economy has been boosted, making our lives more convenient and diversified in terms of food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and entertainment. While modern chemical technologies have brought many benefits, they can also have an impact on public health and the quality of the environment if they are used inappropriately or without proper management.

The use and application of chemical substances is very extensive and involves many government agencies. Therefore, the Executive Yuan, in order to strengthen the integrated decision-making for the management of chemical substances in Taiwan, and to improve the coordination and implementation among ministries, has issued the "National Chemical Substance Management Board Establishment Regulations" by letter in 2019 in accordance with Article 7 of the "Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act," which has been amended three times, in 2021, 2022, and 2023, to stipulate the regulations and implementation items of the board meetings and reports.

The Organization Act of the Ministry of Environment was promulgated on May 24, 2023 by Presidential Decree Hua Zhong Yi Yi Zi No. 11200043181. The Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan was reorganized into the Ministry of the Environment on August 22, 2023, with the establishment of four third-level agencies, including the Chemicals Administration and the National Environmental Research Academy.

The Board is convened by the Premier of the Executive Yuan, with the Vice Premier as the Vice Convener. The Ministry of the Environment (Chemical Administration) is responsible for the staff matters of the Board, and the other members of the Board are not only heads of relevant ministries, but also experts, scholars, and representatives of civil organizations. The Board is convened once a year, and extraordinary meetings may be convened when necessary.

Looking ahead, with the restructuring of the Chemical Administration and the comprehensive expansion of its management, the Board is expected to strengthen inter-ministerial chemical substance risk assessment and management measures through its operation, enhance communication with stakeholders on risks, and supervise ministries in the implementation of the national chemical substance management and other businesses, in order to realize the safe use and management of chemical substances in Taiwan, and to safeguard the health of the public and the quality of the environment.

In the future, matters resolved by the Board will be planned and promoted by the relevant ministries, tracked and managed by the Executive Yuan, and incorporated into the policy directions and policy reports to be submitted to the Legislative Yuan in a timely manner.

National Chemical Substance Management Board Framework

The convener of the Board is the Premier of the Executive Yuan, the vice convener is the Vice Premier, and the chief executive officer is the Minister of Ministry of Environment, with the Ministry of the Environment as the staff unit. The Board conducts inter-ministerial coordination once a year. Participating ministries include the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the National Science and Technology Council, the Ocean Affairs Council, the Department of Transportation, Environment and Natural Resources of the Executive Yuan, the Office of Homeland Security of the Executive Yuan, and representatives of experts, scholars and civil organizations.