Philippines proposes to add new chemicals to its national chemical inventory

Manila, Philippines, November 2025 - The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has moved to further streamline chemical requirements for industry by expanding the country’s national chemical inventory, adding a total of 140 substances notified over the past two years.

The update includes 81 chemicals notified to the agency in 2024 and 59 notified in 2025. Once finalized, the additions will increase the total number of chemicals listed on the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS) to 22,578, up from 22,438.

For companies manufacturing or importing these newly listed substances, the update removes the need to submit notifications under the Philippines’ new chemical notification program. The move is expected to ease administrative burdens for manufacturers and importers, although other permitting, reporting, or control requirements may still apply depending on the chemical and its intended use.

The newly listed substances are used across a wide range of sectors, including adhesives, construction materials, medical devices, metal processing, paints and coatings, and processed food applications.

The update does not affect chemicals used in articles—such as finished goods where substances are not intended to be released during use—nor does it alter requirements under other product-specific regulatory frameworks. Products such as cosmetics, fertilizers, food, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides remain regulated by their respective authorities, including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Food and Drug Administration.