Daily Digest for

The Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has announced that from July 1, unapproved import and export of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) is prohibited.

• HFCs are regulated under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol due to their high global warming potential; Taiwan published the “HFC Management Measures” on February 25, 2025, setting national consumption reduction schedules and requiring approval for import/export.
• Violations of the regulation will incur fines between NT$100,000 and NT$1,000,000; companies must obtain allocation qualifications and permits from the EPA, report quarterly usage, and comply with transfer and sales restrictions.

This enforcement aligns Taiwan with international climate commitments and establishes a legal framework to reduce HFC emissions effectively.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa has published the second draft regulations for Environmental Management of Offshore Ship-to-Ship Transfers to protect marine biodiversity, especially the endangered African Penguin.

• The draft regulations introduce a risk-based system, limit Algoa Bay operations to three operators and six tankers, ban transfers in Anchorage Area 2 during penguin breeding season, and require environmental management plans approved within 90 days.
• Changes include reduced exclusion zones, replacement of sonobuoys with hydrophones, and oil spill response vessels on standby within 30 minutes.
  These regulations aim to balance environmental protection with maritime economic activity, inviting public comments to finalize the rules.