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IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS
OF REPUBLIC ACT 6969
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Administrative Order No. 29, Series of 1992

TITLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Chapter I
General Provisions

These Rules and Regulations shall be known as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 6969.

Section 2     Declaration of Policy

It is the policy of the State to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the environment; to prohibit the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals and hazardous and nuclear wastes.

Section 3     Scope

These Rules and Regulations shall cover the importation, manufacture, processing, handling, storage, transportation, sale, distribution, use and disposal of all unregulated chemical substances and mixtures in the Philippines including the entry, even in transit, as well as the keeping or storage and disposal of hazardous and nuclear wastes into the country for whatever purpose.

Section 4     Construction

These Rules and Regulations shall be liberally construed to carry out the national policy to regulate, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substance and mixtures that present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health or the environment; to prohibit the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose and to provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals and hazardous and nuclear wastes.

Section 5     Administrative and Enforcement

These Rules and Regulations shall be administered by the Secretary or his duly authorized representative or through any other department, bureau, office, agency, state university or college and other instrumentalities of the government for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities and other resources as the need arises in the discharge of its functions.

Section 6     Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in these Rules and Regulations shall, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, have the following meanings:

1. CAS means Chemical Abstracts Service, a uniquely identifying number adopted internationally which permits one to generate toxicological information from a computer base.

2. Chemical Substance means any organic or inorganic substance of a particular molecular identity excluding radioactive materials and includes — any element or uncombined chemical; and any combination of such substances; or any mixture of two or more chemical substances.

3. Chemical mixture means any combination of two or more chemical substances if the combination does not occur in nature and is not, in whole or in the past, the result of a chemical reaction, if none of the chemical substances and if the combination could have been manufactured for commercial purposes without a chemical reaction at the time the chemical substances comprising the combination were combined. This shall include nonbiodegradable mixtures.

4. Department means the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

5. Environmental Protection Officer means an officer appointed or deputized by the Secretary to execute the provisions of these Rules and Regulations subject to conditions, limitations or restrictions as prescribed by the Secretary.

6. Hazardous substances are substances which present either:

1. short-term acute hazards such as acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye contact hazard or the risk of fire or explosion;
2. long-term environmental hazards, including chronic toxicity upon repeated exposure, carcinogenicity (which may in some case result from acute exposure but with a long latent period), resistance to detoxification process such as biodegradation, the potential to pollute underground or surface waters, or aesthetically objectionable properties such as offensive odors.
 
7. Hazardous wastes are substances that are without any safe commercial, industrial, agricultural or economic usage and are shipped, transported or brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal into or in transit through any part of the territory of the Philippines.

Hazardous wastes shall also refer to by-products, side-products, process residues, spent reaction media, contaminated plant or equipment or other substances from manufacturing operations and as consumer discards of manufactured products which present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health and safety and to the environment.

8. Importation means the entry of a product or substance into the Philippines (through the seaports or airports of entry) after having been properly cleared through or still remaining under customs control, the product or substance of which is intended for direct consumption, merchandising, warehousing, for further processing.

9. Inert waste means any waste that, when placed in a landfill is reasonably expected not to undergo any physical, chemical, and/or biological changes to such an extent as to cause pollution or hazard to public health and safety.

10. New Chemicals means any chemical substance imported into or manufactured in the country after December 31, 1993 and which are not included in the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances as published by the Department.

11. Nuclear wastes are hazardous wastes made radioactive by exposure to the radiation incidental to the production or utilization of nuclear fuels but does not include nuclear fuel, or radioisotopes which have reached the final stage of fabrication so as to be usable for any scientific, medical, agricultural, commercial, or industrial purpose.

12. Manufacture means the mechanical or chemical transformation of substances into new products whether work is performed by power-driven machines or by hand, whether it is done in a factory or in worker’s home, and whether the products are sold at wholesale or retail.

13. Occupier is one who must have a license to accept, produce, generate, store, treat, recycle, reprocess, process, manufacture or dispose of hazardous waste.

14. Permit means a legal authorization to engage in or conduct any or all of the following activities for:

1. Toxic chemicals — importation, storage, manufacture, processing, selling, transport and disposal
2. Hazardous wastes — storage, treatment, transport, export, processing, reprocessing, recycling and disposal
3. Hazardous materials — importation or exportation
 
15. Person or persons includes any being, natural or juridical, susceptible of rights and obligations or of being the subject of legal relations.

16. Pollution means any alteration of the physical, chemical, biological properties of any water, air and/or land resource of the Philippines, or any discharge thereto of any liquid, gaseous or solid waste, or any production of unnecessary noise, or any emission of objectionable odor, as will or is likely to create or to render such water, air and/or land resources harmful, detrimental or injurious to public health, safety or welfare, or which will adversely affect their utilization for domestic, industrial, agricultural, recreational or other legitimate purposes.

17. Premises shall include but not limited to:

1. building or part of a building;
2. a tent, stall or other structure whether permanent or temporary;
3. land;
4. vehicle;
5. boat or ship.
 
18. Process means the preparation of a chemical substance or mixture after its manufacture for commercial distribution:

1. In the same form or physical state or in a different form or physical state from that which it was received by the person so preparing such substance or mixture; or
2. As part of an article containing a chemical substance or mixture.

19. Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

20. Transport includes conveyance by air, water and land.

21. Waste generator means a person who generates or produces, through any commercial, industrial or trade activities, hazardous wastes.

22. Waste transporter means a person who is licensed to transport hazardous wastes.

23. Waste treater means a person who is licensed to treat, store, recycle, or dispose of hazardous wastes.

24. Unreasonable risk means expected high frequency of undesirable effects or adverse responses arising from a given exposure to a substance.

Chapter II
Administrative Provision

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be tasked with the following functions, powers and responsibilities:

1. To keep an updated inventory of chemicals that are presently being manufactured or used, indicating among others, their existing and possible uses, quantity, test data, names of firms manufacturing or using them, and such other information as the Secretary may consider relevant to the protection of health and the environment;
2. To require chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk or injury to health or to the environment to be tested before they are manufactured or imported for the first time;
3. To require chemical substances and mixtures which are presently being manufactured or processed to be tested if there is reason to believe that they pose unreasonable risk or injury to health and the environment;
4. To evaluate the characteristics of chemicals that have been tested to determine their toxicity and the extent of their effects on health and the environment;
5. To enter into contracts and make grants for research, development and monitoring of chemical substances and mixtures;
6. To conduct inspection of any establishment in which chemicals are manufactured, processed, stored or held before or after their commercial distribution and to make recommendations to the proper authorities concerned;
7. To confiscate or impound chemicals found not falling within the standards set by these Rules and Regulations and the said acts cannot be enjoined except after the chemicals have been impounded;
8. To monitor and prevent the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the country;
9. To subpoena witnesses and documents and to require other information if necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act;
10. To call on any department, bureau, office, agency, state university or college, and other instrumentalities of the Government for assistance in the form of personnel, facilities and other resources as the need arises in the discharge of its functions;
11. To disseminate information and conduct educational awareness campaign on the effects of chemical substances, mixtures and wastes on health and environment; and
12. To exercise such powers and perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities under RA 6969.

1.    The Secretary may appoint and or deputize officers subject to conditions, limitations, or restrictions as may be prescribed by him.

2.    The Secretary may delegate his powers to:

1. conduct inspection of any establishment in which chemicals are manufactured, processed, stored or held before or after their commercial distribution and to make recommendations to the proper authorities concerned;
2. conduct inspection of any premises in which hazardous wastes are being generated, stored, processed, reprocessed, recycled, treated and/or disposed of and to make recommendations to the proper authorities.
3. stop, detain, inspect, examine and remove to some suitable place for inspection and examination any vehicle or boat that is believed to being or likely to be used for the transport of chemical substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes subject to pertinent provisions of these Rules and Regulations;
4. monitor and prevent the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the country;
5. subpoena witnesses and documents and to require other information if necessary to carry out the provisions of these Rules and Regulations.

1. delegated authorities previously granted under  Section 8(2) of these Rules and Regulations; and
2. appointment of an Environmental Protection Officer.

An Environmental Protection Officer shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To make such examination or inquiry as is necessary to determine whether these Rules and Regulations are being complied with.
2. To enter any premises in which he reasonably believes that chemical substance or hazardous waste are being used, manufactured, stored, processed, reprocessed, generated, treated, transported or disposed of and may:

1. without payment take or require the occupier or person in charge of the premises or person in possession of any chemical substance to give the Environmental Protection Officer samples of the chemical substance for examination and testing subject to pertinent provisions of these Rules and Regulations;
2. require the production of any relevant documents and inspect, examine and make copies of or extracts from them or remove them to make a copy or extract, and
3. take such photographs or audio or visual recordings as he considers necessary.

3. To stop, detain, inspect, examine and remove to some suitable place for inspection and examination any vehicle or boat that he believes is being or likely to be used for the transport of chemical substances and hazardous wastes without the necessary permit from the Department.
4. To require a person found committing an offense under these Rules and Regulations to state the person’s full name and address.
5. To exercise such other duties and responsibilities as may be authorized by the Secretary.

Upon receipt of a report from a duly authorized inspector or upon a verified complaint from a private person, the Secretary or his duly authorized representative shall order an investigation or inquiry in such a manner as he may determine on the alleged violation of any of the provision of RA 6969 and these Rules and Regulations. If after investigation there appears to be a violation of any of the provisions of RA 6969 or these Rules and Regulations, the Secretary or his duly authorized representative shall issue summons informing respondent/s of nature of charges against him and requiring the said respondent or respondents to appear before him or his duly designated representative for a conference for the purpose of determining whether an Order for confiscation or impoundment or fine should be issued.

Section 11     Ex-Parte Order of Confiscation or Impoundment

Whenever the Secretary or his duly authorized representative finds a prima facie evidence that the violation presents unreasonable risk and or injury to health or the environment the Secretary or his duly authorized representative may issue an Ex-Parte Order of confiscation or impoundment, provided respondent may file his Motion for Reconsideration within ten (10) days from date of confiscation or impoundment which Motion for Reconsideration shall be resolved within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the same.

Chapter III
Inter-Agency Technical Advisory Council

Section 13     Functions of the Council

The Council shall have the following functions:

1. To assist the Department in the formulation of these rules and regulations for the effective implementation of RA 6969;
2. To assist the Department in the preparation and updating of the inventory of chemical substances and mixtures that fall within the coverage of RA 6969;
3. To conduct preliminary evaluation of the characteristics of chemical substances and mixtures to determine their toxicity and effects on health and the environment and make the necessary recommendations to the Department; and
4. To perform such other functions as the Secretary may, from time to time, require.

TITLE II
TOXIC CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES

Chapter IV
Inventory of Chemical Substances

1.     The Secretary or his duly authorized representative shall cause the keeping, updating, compilation and maintenance of an inventory of chemical substances which are stored, imported, exported, used, processed, manufactured or transported.

2.     The inventory shall contain such information that the Secretary or his duly authorized representative considers to be relevant to the protection of health and the environment.

3.     The Secretary or his duly authorized representative shall cause the release of an updated listing of the inventory comprising the chemical substance’s name and its CAS number.

Section 15     Pre-Manufacturing and Pre-Importation Data Requirements

1.     The desired information for a nomination of a chemical substance under section 16 and the required information for a notification of a chemical substance under section 17 shall comprise:

1. its proper chemical name;
2. its trade name or names;
3. its chemical and molecular structure;
4. its CAS number;
5. its RTECS number (if available)
6. its United Nations number (if applicable)
7. its United Nations class and subsidiary risk category (if applicable);
8. the following physical characteristics (if applicable)

1. boiling point;
2. melting point;
3. specific gravity;
4. vapor pressure;
5. appearance;
6. odor;
7. purity; and
8. water/octanol partition coefficient;

9. the following chemical properties (if applicable)

1. solubility in water; and
2. solubility in an organic solvent;

10. the following toxicological data (if applicable)

1. measured lethal dose (median) in two species;
2. measured lethal concentration (median) in two species;
3. results of an irritation test on the skin and eyes of species;
4. results of a short-term sub-lethal toxicity test on one species;

11. any recommended time weighted exposure average (eight hour working day);
12. its flash point measured under close cup conditions;
13. its upper and lower explosive limits (if applicable);
14. its known stability and incompatibilities;
15. its carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic properties;
16. the name and address of the nominating person; and
17. the anticipated volume in cubic meters or weight in tones, per annum of the chemical substance being used, stored, manufactured, processed, offered for sale or sold, transported, imported and exported by the nominating person.

Section 16     Nomination of Existing Chemicals

1.     Until 31 December 1993, a person shall submit to the Department for inclusion in the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances, a list of chemical substances which are currently used, sold, distributed, imported, processed, manufactured, stored, exported or transported in the Philippines in a form as may be provided by the Department.

2.     The person who nominates a chemical substance shall provide as much information as outlined in Section 15 of these Rules and Regulations and that such nomination shall contain the following minimum data:

1. chemical name
2. trade name or names
3. chemical structure
4. CAS number
5. anticipated volume in cubic meters, or weight in tones per annum of chemicals being nominated
6. name and address of nominating person

4.     The Department shall not accept any further nominations of chemical substances under this section after 31 December 1993.

Section 17     Notification of New Chemicals

1.     After 31 December 1993, a chemical substance which is not included in the chemical inventory shall be considered as new chemical substance.

Unless exempted, any person who uses, stores, imports, manufactures, transports or processes a chemical substance after 31 December 1993 which is not listed in the chemical inventory shall be liable for violation of Section 16 of these Rules and Regulations and shall be dealt with subject to the provisions of Section 15 of RA 6969.

2.     No person shall use, store, transport, import, sell, distribute, manufacture, or process a new chemical substance unless permitted by the Department. Permit shall be granted under the following conditions:

1. The Department must be notified of the intention to do so at least one hundred and eight (180) days before commencing such activity; and
2. The Department shall be provided with such information as outlined in Section 15;

4.     The notification which does not comply with the requirement of Section 17(3) will not be acted and/or accepted.

5.     The Department shall have the discretion not to include the new chemical substance in the chemical inventory if the information provided to the Department by the person does not fully comply with the requirements of Section 15 or the Department suspects that the data are of dubious quality.

6.     Any person who falsifies information on a chemical substance while nominating an existing or new chemical substance shall be criminally liable.

Section 18     Assessment of Chemicals

1.     Upon notification of a new chemical substance under Section 17 of these Rules and Regulations, the Department shall within ninety days determine whether:

1. to add the chemical substance to the chemical inventory;
2. to seek further information to any person for the purpose of assessing public health and environmental risk posed by the use, storage, manufacture, import, process or transport of the chemical substance or;
3. to issue Chemical Control Order in accordance to Section 20 of these Rules and Regulations.

Section 19     Priority Chemicals List

1.     The Department shall compile and may amend from time to time a list to be known as the Priority Chemicals List.

2.     The Department may determine which chemical substance from the chemical inventory should be included, deleted or excluded from the Priority Chemicals List.

3.     The Department shall publish in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation the Priority Chemicals List and any amendments and deletions to the List.

4.     The Department may require information from any person for the purpose of assessing the public and environmental risk posed by the use, storage, manufacture, import, process or transport of the priority chemicals.

Section 20     Chemical Control Orders

1.    If the Department has determined that the use, storage, transport, process, manufacture, import or export of any new substance or a priority chemical poses an unreasonable risk or hazard to public health or the environment, the Department may, by order published in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation:

1. prohibit the use, manufacture, import, export, transport, process, storage, possession or sale of the chemical substance;
2. limit the use, manufacture, import, export, transport, process, storage, possession or sale of the chemical substances; or
3. place such controls or conditions on the use, manufacture, import, export, transport, process, storage, possession or sale of the chemical substance to abate or minimize risks or hazards posed by the chemical substances on public health and environment.

Chapter V
Testing Requirements

1.     Testing shall be required in all cases where:

1. There is reason to believe that the chemical substances or mixture may present an unreasonable risk to health or environment;
2. There is insufficient data and experience for determining or predicting the health and environmental effects of the chemical substance or mixture; and
3. The testing of the chemical substance or mixture is necessary to develop such data.

Chapter VI
Exemptions

The following substances and mixtures shall be exempted from the requirements of Section 17, 18 and 21 of these Rules and Regulations:

1. Those chemicals already included in the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances;
2. Those to be produced or used in small quantities solely for experimental or research and development purposes;
3. Those that are reaction intermediates which do not leave the closed production system or undergo intermediate storage during the reaction process;
4. Those chemical substances that are regulated by laws other than RA 6969.

1.     The Secretary or his duly authorized representative may cause the impoundment or confiscation of any chemical substance and its conveyance and container if there is reasonable grounds to believe that:

1. the sale, storage, posession, use, manufacture, transport, import, or export for a chemical substance does not comply with the Chemical Control Order; or
2. the sale, storage, possession, use, manufacture, transport, import or export of chemical substance poses an immediate threat or hazard to public health and safety or the environment.

TITLE III
HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR WASTES

Chapter VII
Hazardous Waste

1.     It shall be the policy of the Department to prohibit the entry even in transit of hazardous wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose.

2.     The Department encourages proper management of hazardous wastes generated within the country by promoting, in order of preference:

1. minimization of the generation of hazardous waste;
2. recycling and reuse of hazardous waste;
3. treatment of hazardous waste to render it harmless; and
4. landfill of inert hazardous waste residues.

1. pollution;
2. state of danger to public, health, welfare and safety;
3. harm to animals, bird, wildlife, fish or other aquatic life;
4. harm to plants and vegetation; or
5. limitation in the beneficial use of a segment of the environment.

5.     The waste generator shall bear the costs for the proper storage, treatment and disposal of their hazardous waste.

Section 25     Classification of Hazardous Waste

1.     The classes and sub-categories of wastes listed in Table 1 shall be prescribed as hazardous waste for the purposes of this Rules and Regulations.

2.     The types of wastes listed in Table 2 shall be exempted from the requirements of these Rules and Regulations.

3.     The listings provided for Tables 1 and 2 are not inclusive and shall be subject to periodic review.

Table 1
Prescribed Hazardous Wastes

Table 2
Exempted Wastes

1.     All waste generators shall:

1. notify the Department of the type and quantity of wastes generated in accordance with the form and in a manner approved by the Department and accompanied by a payment of the prescribed fee; and
2. provide the Department, on a quarterly basis, with information to include the type and quantity of the hazardous waste generated, produced or transported outside, and such other information as may be required.

3.     A waste generator shall prepare and submit to the Department comprehensive emergency contingency plans to mitigate and combat spills and accidents involving chemical substances and/or hazardous waste. These plans shall conform with the content of the guidelines issued by the Department.

4.     A waste generator shall be responsible for training its personnel and staff on:

1. the implementation of the plan required under Section 26(3); and
2. the hazard posed by the improper handling, storage, transport, and use of chemical substances and their containers.

1.     No transport of hazardous waste shall be allowed unless prior permit is secured from the Department.

2.     Any application for the issuance or amendment of a permit to transport hazardous waste shall be made in accordance with the form and in a manner approved by the Department and accompanied by a payment of the prescribed fee.

3.     The Department shall maintain a register of waste transporters.

4.     A waste generator shall only use waste transporters duly authorized by the Department to transport hazardous wastes.

Section 28     Waste Transport Record

1.     A waste transport record shall be in a form prescribed by the Department and shall contain the following particulars:

1. the name and address of the waste generator;
2. the name of the waste transporter used to transport a load of hazardous wastes;
3. the registration number of the waste transport vehicle,
4. the waste treatment license of the waste transporter;
5. the description of the hazardous waste transporter including its class and sub-category as stated in Table 1;
6. the quantity of the hazardous waste transported;
7. the type of container used during the transport;
8. the name and address of transit points and the final destination of the hazardous waste; and
9. the intended method of hazardous waste treatment, storage, export, recycling, processing, reprocessing or disposal at the destination.

3.     The waste generator shall retain and store a copy of the waste transport record for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of receipt of Department.

4.     Prior to the transport of the hazardous waste, the waste transporter shall complete, in duplicate, portions referring to the waste transporter in the prescribed form.

5.     The waste transporter shall place a copy of the waste transport record in the driver’s cabin of the waste transport vehicle.

6.     Upon arrival at the waste treatment, storage, recycling, reprocessing, processing or disposal premises, the waste transporter shall give a copy of the waste transport record to the waste treater.

7.     Upon receiving a waste transport record, the waste treater shall:

1. verify the accuracy of the waste description of the hazardous waste;
2. complete portions of the waste treater on the waste transport record; and
3. retain and store the complete waste transport record for a period of twenty-four months after receipt of the hazardous waste.

9.     If the hazardous waste is accepted by the waste treater for treatment, storage, export, recycling, reprocessing, processing or disposal, the waste treater shall certify in writing, the acceptance of the hazardous waste to the waste generator.

10.     The waste treater shall send to the Department within 5 days, the certification required under Section 28(9) copy furnished the waste generator.

11.     Any waste transporter while transporting hazardous waste is involved in an accident which results in the spillage or release of the hazardous waste to the environment shall immediately contain the spillage and notify the Department.

Section 29     Hazardous Waste Storage and Labelling

1.     Vessels, containers and tanks for the storage of hazardous waste shall be clearly labelled and this labelling shall comprise the following particulars:

1. the class of the hazardous waste as specified in Table 1;
2. the sub-category of the hazardous waste as specified in Table 1;
3. the waste number as specified in Table 1;
4. the name and address of the waste generator; and
5. maximum capacity or volume.

Section 30     Waste Treatment and Disposal Premises

1.     No waste treater shall accept, store, treat, recycle, reprocess or dispose of hazardous wastes unless done in the premises as prescribed in Table 3 and permitted by the Department.

Table 3
Prescribed Waste Treatment Premises

3.     The Department shall maintain a register of waste treaters.

Section 31     Import and Export of Hazardous Substances

1.     Any person who wishes to import into the Philippines or export hazardous substances must seek and obtain prior written approval from the Department.

2.     An application made under Section 31(1) shall be made in the form and manner approved by the Department and accompanied by payment of the prescribed fee.

3.     The Department shall cause the seizure of the imported hazardous substances which does not comply with the approved permit, return the hazardous substance to their point of origin and initiate proceedings to recover cost incurred.

Chapter VIII
Nuclear Wastes

1.     It shall be the policy of the government to prohibit the entry, even in transit, of nuclear waste and their storage or disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose.

2.     The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) shall be the government agency responsible for the regulation and licensing of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 2067, the Science Act of 1958, and R.A. 5207, the Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968, both as amended. Radioactive material as defined in the laws includes radioactive products or wastes.

Section 33     Specific Exemption

1.     The following are exempt from the requirements of these regulations:

1. Any holder of a valid PNRI license authorized to operate a nuclear power plant or atomic energy facility, who, in the course of operating his licensed facility, transports spent nuclear fuel for reprocessing in a foreign country and re-acquires the by-products of reprocessing, including its nuclear wastes, for storage in his facility.
2. States which are signatories to the Basel Convention and countries with bilateral agreements with the Philippines that would allow the passage or transit shipment of nuclear wastes over Philippine territorial limit. Prior informed arrangements and notification schedules shall have been made through proper Philippine authorities including the DENR and the PNRI.

Section 34     Abandoned or Unclaimed Nuclear Waste

Nuclear wastes which are unclaimed or abandoned, and whose legal ownership cannot be ascertained, shall be subject to the regulations of the PNRI on the management and disposal of nuclear wastes.

Section 35     Scrap Metal that May Contain Radioactive Materials

1.     Any importer of scrap metal intended for domestic reprocessing shall certify to the DENR that scrap metal he is importing does not contain radioactive material in any form, shape or containment.

2.     Scrap metal that may contain radioisotopes of the elements Cesium. Cobalt, Americium, Strontium, or as may be determined by the PNRI shall not be processed for the fabrication of metal bars or components.

Section 36     Reporting and Notification

Any person shall immediately notify the DENR or the PNRI of any existence of unauthorized radioactive material or nuclear waste anywhere in the Philippines. The report should be such as to cause the immediate location of the radioactive material to institute the necessary protective and recovery measures.

TITLE IV
COMMON PROVISIONS

Chapter IX
Permitting Regulations

1.     The Department shall prescribe fees for the notification and assessment of new chemicals under Section 17 and Section 18.

2.     The Department shall publish the scale of fees and amendments to the scale of fees in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation which shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication.

Section 38     Prescribed Fees for Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes

1.     The Department shall prescribe reasonable fees for:

1. registration of a waste generator;
2. permitting of a waste transporter;
3. permitting of a waste treater;
4. authority to import or export hazardous material; and
5. waste transport record.

Chapter X
Public Access to Records, Reports and Notification and Confidentiality of Information

1.    The general public shall have access to the chemical inventory and to the priority chemical list.

2.    The general public shall have access to the documents prepared by the Department regarding chemical control orders excepting confidential portions contained in this documents.

Section 40     Confidentiality of Information

1.     Any person who is requested to provide information to the Department under Section 16, 17, 18 and 21 of these Rules and Regulations may submit together with the information a request the such information be treated as confidential.

2.     The Department of Environment and Natural Resources may consider a record, report of information or particular person thereof confidential and may not be made public when such would divulge trade secrets, or sales figures or methods, production or processes unique to such manufacturer, processor or distributor or would otherwise tend to affect adversely the competitive position of such manufacturer, processor or distributor, information other than its chemical name and CAS Number (if applicable) be treated as confidential.

3.     No disclosure of any information shall be done subject to Sections 40(1) and 40(2) except:

1. where there is written consent provided the person who requested confidentiality under Section 40(1);
2. under an agreement, convention or treaty between the government of the Philippines and other foreign nations provided that the foreign nation undertakes to keep the information confidential;
3. under an agreement between the Department and other statutory bodies and local authorities provided that the information is required to fulfill their legal obligations and provided that they agree to keep the information confidential;
4. under formal instruction of a competent court of law;
5. to a physician or a prescribed medical professional who requests the information for the purpose of making a medical diagnosis of, or rendering medical treatment to, a person in an emergency and who agrees, in writing to keep the information confidential; or
6. where the department certifies that the disclosure of the information is in the interest of public health and safety or protection of the environment.

TITLE V
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES

Chapter XI
Prohibited Acts

The following acts and omissions shall be considered as administrative violations:

1. All acts and omissions mentioned under Section 13(a to c) of Republic Act 6969.

2. Failure or refusal to subject for testing chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk or injury to health or to the environment before said chemical substances and mixtures are manufactured or imported for the first time.

3. Failure or refusal to subject for testing chemical substances and mixtures which are presently being manufactured or processed if there is a reason to believe that said chemical substances and mixtures pose unreasonable risk or injury to health and the environment.

4. Refusing, obstructing or hampering the entry of authorized representatives of the Secretary into any establishment in which chemicals are processed, manufactured, stored or held before or after their commercial distribution during reasonable hours for the purpose of conducting an inspection.

5. Failure or refusal to notify the Department with the type and quantity of hazardous wastes generated and to provide quarterly report of waste generation as provided for under Section 26 of these Rules and Regulations.

6. Failure or refusal to secure permit or authorization from the Department prior to transport, storage, or disposal of hazardous wastes as provided for in Section 27, 28 and 30 of these Rules and Regulations.

7. Failure or refusal to secure approval from the Department prior to conduct of any importation or exportation of hazardous substances as provided for in Section 31 of these Rules and Regulations.

8. Failure or refusal to provide proper labelling as provided for under Section 29 of these Rules and Regulations regarding hazardous waste storage and labelling.

9. Failure or refusal to comply with subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued by the Secretary or his duly authorized representative.

1.     Knowingly use a chemical substance or mixture which is imported, manufactured, processed or distributed in violation of these Rules and Regulations;

2.     Failure or refusal to submit reports, notices or other information, access to records as required by Republic Act 6969 as permit inspection of establishment where chemicals are manufactured, processed, stored or otherwise held;

3     Failure or refusal to comply with the pre-manufacture and pre-importation requirements;

4.     Cause, aid or facilitate, directly or indirectly in the storage, importation or bringing into Philippine territory including its maritime economic zones, even in transit, either by means of land, air or sea transportation or otherwise keeping in storage any amount of hazardous and nuclear wastes in any part of the Philippines.

Chapter XII
Penalties

In all cases of violations under Section 41 of these Rules and Regulations, the Secretary is hereby authorized to impose a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) upon any person or entity found guilty thereof.

Nothing in this provision shall however under Section 14 of RA 6969 ban the institution of the proper criminal action against any person or entity found guilty herein.

Section 44     Criminal Offenses and Penalties

1.

1. The penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months and one day to six (6) years and one day and a fine ranging from Six Hundred Pesos (P600.00) to Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person who shall violate Section 42(1) of these Rules and Regulations. If the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported and banned from any subsequent entry into the Philippines after serving his or her sentence.

2. In case any violation of these Rules and Regulations is committed by a partnership, corporation, association or any juridical person, the partner, president, director or manager who shall consent to or knowingly tolerate such violation shall be directly liable and responsible for the act of the employees and shall be criminal liable as a co-principal.

3. In case the offender is a government official or employee, he or she shall in addition to the above penalties be deemed automatically dismissed from office and permanently disqualified from holding any elective or appointive position;

1. The penalty of imprisonment of twelve (12) years and one day to twenty (20) years shall be imposed upon any person who shall violate Section 13(d) of R.A. 6969. If the offender is a foreigner, he or she shall be deported and banned from any subsequent entry into the Philippines after serving his or her sentence.

2. In the case of corporations or other associations, the above penalty shall be imposed upon the managing partner, president or chief executive in addition to an exemplary damage of at least Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000 00). If it is a foreign firm the director and all officers of such foreign firm shall be banned from entry into the Philippines in addition to the cancellation of its license to do business in the Philippines.

3. In case the offender is a government official or employee, he or she shall in addition to the above penalties be deemed automatically dismissed from office and permanently disqualified from holding any elective or appointive positions.

4.     The person or firm responsible or connected with the bringing into the country of hazardous and nuclear wastes shall be under obligation to transport or send back said prohibited wastes. Any and all means of transportation, including all facilities and appurtenances that may have been used in transporting to or in the storage in the Philippines of any significant amount of hazardous or nuclear wastes shall at the option of the government be forfeited in its favor.

TITLE VI
FINAL PROVISIONS

Chapter XIII

If any section or provision of these Rules and Regulations is held or declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the other sections or provisions hereof shall continue to be in force as if the sections or provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated herein.

Section 46     Repealing Clause

All Rules and Regulations or parts of said rules and regulations of pertinent laws inconsistent with these Rules and Regulations are hereby revised, amended, modified and/or superseded as the case may be by these Rules and Regulations.

Section 47     Amendments

These Rules and Regulations may be amended and/or modified from time to time by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Section 48     Effectivity

These Rules and Regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after completion of publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

(signed) Fulgencio S. Factoran, Jr.
Secretary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Acknowledgement: Text courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

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