Annex A: Proposed Control of Short -Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCP) in Singapore  
 
Introduction  
 
In July 2017, the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore notified the WTO TBT 
Committee of its intention to control polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN) and trichlorfon as 
Hazardous Substances (HS) under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and 
EPM (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, and to phase -out the production, import, export and 
use of PCN by May 2018. Following further consultation with industry, NEA is planning to control 
short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) as Hazardous Substances (HS) under the Environmental 
Protection and Management  Act (EPMA) and EPM (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, and to 
phase out the production, import, export and use of SCCP in Singapore. The control of PCN, 
trichlorfon and SCCP is now planned to take effect by June 2018.  
 
Short -Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (S CCP)  
 
2 The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a global treaty to 
protect human health and the environment from POPs. POPs are chemicals that can remain intact 
in the environment for long period of time, can be widely distribut ed geographically, accumulate in 
the fatty tissues of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or the 
environment.  
 
3 SCCP (C 10 - C13 chloroalkanes) is a POP, which is used as a component in lubricants for 
metal working applications, and as a fire retardant/plasticiser in paints, sealant, rubber and 
polymers. According to reports published on the Stockholm Convention website, the global 
production of SCCP is decreasing. These reports, as well as publications from developed countries, 
also mention that there are commercially available alternatives to SCCP.  
 
4 At the 8th Meeting of the Conference of Parties of the Stockholm Convention (COP -8) in 
2017, SCCP was listed in Annex A (with specific exemptions shown in Table 1 below) of the 
Convention. For chemicals listed in Annex A of the Convention, Parties would have to take 
measures to prohibit the production, import, export and use of the chemicals.  
 
Table 1: Listing of SCCP in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention  
 
Chemical  Activity  Specific Exemptions  
Short -chain chlorinated 
paraffins (Alkanes, C 10-13, 
chloro): straight- chain 
chlorinated hydrocarbons 
with chain lengths ranging 
from C 10 to C 13 and a 
content of chlorine greater 
than 48 per cent by weight  
 
For example, the 
substanc es with the 
following CAS numbers may 
contain short- chain 
chlorinated paraffins: 
CAS No. 85535- 84-8  
CAS No. 68920- 70-7 
CAS No. 71011- 12-6 
CAS No. 85536- 22-7  
CAS No. 85681- 73-8  
CAS No. 108171- 26-2 Production  As allowed for the Parties listed in the Reg ister of 
specific exemptions  
Use • Additives in the production of transmission belts in 
the natural and synthetic rubber industry  
• Spare parts for rubber conveyor belts in the mining 
and forestry industries  
• Leather industry, in particular fatliquoring in leather  
• Lubricant additives, in particular for automobile 
engines, electric generators, wind power facilities, 
drilling in oil and gas exploration and petroleum 
refining to produce diesel oil  
• Tubes for outdoor decoration bulbs  
• Waterproofing  and fire -retardant paints 
• Adhesives  
• Metal processing  
• Secondary plasticizers in flexible polyvinyl chloride, 
except in toys and children’s products  
 5 The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain 
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is a global treaty to promote shared 
responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous 
chemicals in order to protect human health and the environme nt. 
 
6  At the 8th Meeting of the Conference of Parties of the Rotterdam Convention (COP -8) in 
2017, SCCP was also listed in Annex III of the Convention. Chemicals listed in Annex III are 
subjected to the PIC procedure which involves formally obtaining the  decisions of importing Parties 
on whether they wish to receive future shipments of the chemical of concern and ensuring that 
exporting Parties comply with the decisions of importing Parties.  
 
Proposed Regulatory Control in Singapore  
 
7 In line with the ob ligation to phase out the production, import, export and use of SCCP, and 
in view of global indications on the availability of alternatives for SCCP, the domestic control 
measures for SCCP are being reviewed.  
 
8 NEA plans to gazette the control of SCCP under the EPMA and EPM (HS) Regulations by 
December 2017. Importers, manufacturers and distributors of SCCP and products containing SCCP 
will have 6 months from the date of gazette to comply with the control. With effect from June 
2018, the production, impor t, export and use of SCCP and products containing SCCP in Singapore 
will not be allowed.