Hong Kong is a world-renowned sourcing centre for houseware products, including tableware, kitchenware and sanitary ware made of a vast variety of materials. Owing to the high production costs in Hong Kong, most Hong Kong manufacturers have relocated production to the mainland or other emerging economies, particularly those in Southeast Asia. High value-adding functions, such as sourcing, logistics and product development, are kept in Hong Kong.
The Council of the European Union (“the Council”) has adopted two regulations aimed at phasing out the use of fluorinated gases (“F-gases”) and other ozone-depleting gases which contribute to climate change. While existing EU legislation already limits the use of both types of substances, these new laws will work to further minimise their environmental impact, in line with the global Paris Agreement.
California enacted into law in October 2023 three separate bills aimed at further enhancing health protections for consumers in the state that could have an appreciable impact on a range of products from mainland China and Hong Kong. At the same time, two bills targeting cleaning products and artificial turf that were also approved by the California legislature were ultimately vetoed by Governor Newsom.
The European Commission has launched its planned review of the ecodesign requirements for solid-fuel local space heaters. The review, to be carried out in the framework of Directive 2009/125, which sets out the existing rules for energy-related products placed on the EU market (“the Ecodesign Directive”), will review the specific current ecodesign requirements for solid fuel space heaters as further laid out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1185 (“the 2015 Implementing Regulation”).
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control has announced plans to add para-phenylenediamine (PPD) derivatives and laundry detergents containing nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) to its candidate chemicals list under the Safer Consumer Products Program based on their reported impacts on human health and the environment. Interested parties may submit input on the PPD derivative proposal by 15 November and on the laundry detergent proposal by 31 December.