- Date:2021-02-09
- Department:Evaluation Management Division
The action against nitrous oxide abuse will not take breaks during Chinese New Year. Our country’s chemical substance control has reached a new milestone in 2020. In order to defend public health, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has announced nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) as the first concerned chemical substance on October 30, 2020 to strengthen chemical management from the source to its distribution. The EPA also cooperates with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Police Agency to stop nitrous oxide misuse among young people.
The EPA reminds that nitrous oxide has been officially announced as a concerned chemical substance. The records concerning the handling of nitrous oxide including import, manufacturing, sale, use and storage of nitrous oxide shall be kept daily by traders who handle nitrous oxide, then report monthly. Purchasing nitrous oxide through mail order, online platform and any transactions from e-commerce are prohibited. In addition, traders who have handled nitrous oxide before the announcement must obtain approval documents, complete the labeling of "For industrial use only and no inhaling is allowed", prepare a safety data sheet and add sulfur dioxide to nitrous oxide as required before May 1, 2021.
The performance of unauthorized handling of nitrous oxide shall be fined from NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 in accordance with the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act. If the unauthorized handling leads to death or endangering the health of people, additional criminal liability will be imposed. Anyone who violates the regulations to conduct online sales shall be fined from NT$60,000 to NT$300,000. The EPA calls on the public to work with the government for a healthier, happier and fresher year of the Golden Ox.
