- Department:Evaluation Management Division
To prevent teenagers from misusing nitrous oxide, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) announced that nitrous oxide will be listed as the first “concerned chemical substance”. In the future, EPA will cooperate with Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), and police authority to impose controls on nitrous oxide. Apart from requesting manufacturers, importers, and sellers to obtain approval therefor and report the transactions thereof, EPA will prohibit transactions on the online platforms. After the official pre-announcement took place on July 21, EPA will hold public hearings, and it is expected to make the official announcement before the end of October. Upon release of the official announcement, strict controls on nitrous oxide will immediately become effective.
Heavy penalty will be imposed on anyone who misuses nitrous oxide. Those who result in the death or endanger the health of the other person will be probably subject to life imprisonment or at least 7 years of imprisonment, with a fine of NTD 10 million at most. In addition, the inhalers will be punished as “users without approval”, who will be subject to fines of from NTD 30 to 300 thousand. Those who running online shop to illegally sell nitrous oxide will also be fined from NTD 60 to 300 thousand. In the meantime, except for special purposes approved by governments, sulfur dioxide, which has a stinky odor, will be added into nitrous oxide cylinders to stop the improper use like inhalation.
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas”, is supposed to be used in semiconductor industries, medical treatments, producing milk foam, and so on. Nevertheless, the police authority revealed that some teenagers have been found taking drugs together with inhaling nitrous oxide in night clubs or hotels in recent years. Concerning the health of teenagers, Executive Yuan therefore instructed relevant ministries to look for a solution to prevent teenagers from inhaling nitrous oxide.
The misuse of nitrous oxide can not only interfere the formation of Vitamin B12 in human bodies but also affect the hematological system and mental health. This will result in nausea, vomiting, hypoxia and even arrhythmia, cerebral edema, visual impairment, brain damage, drowsiness, mental disorder, hysteria, numbness, and loss of consciousness.
Hsieh Yein-Rui, Director General of Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau, indicated that, in the past, about 98% of nitrous oxide had been used properly, whereas the material flow and purpose of the remaining 2% had to be clarified by governments. The “Four Yes and Two No” control measure (i.e. Yes to obtaining approval, labeling, recording every transaction and doing monthly declaration; and No to online transactions and using without approval) proposed by EPA demands nitrous oxide handlers to improve their recording of material flows and transactions, which enables authorities concerned to track and inspect flows from manufacture, import, sale, use to storage. Anyone without approval is not allowed to handle nitrous oxide. EPA said the goal of this new announcement is to track the flow from the manufacturers or importers, which will not impact normal users.
EPA explained that nitrous oxide will become the first concerned chemical substance after “Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act” took effect on January 16 this year. For those who handle nitrous oxide for industrial purposes before this new policy is announced, it is a must to record every transaction, make monthly declarations online, and stop any online transaction upon announcement. Besides, these current handlers must obtain an approval document and label containers or packages within six months upon announcement. As for nitrous oxide used to create coffee foam, it is within the scope of Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, of which MOHW is in charge.
Moreover, EPA emphasized that Executive Yuan has already requested relevant ministries to form a joint team to inspect illegal handlers of nitrous oxide. EPA, MOEA, MOHW, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of the Interior will make every effort to prevent the recurrence of misuse or illegal use of nitrous oxide through interdepartmental collaboration.
