On May 29, 2025, Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MOENV) published a new draft of the Resource Recycling Act, which includes a proposal to rename the legislation as the Resource Circulation Promotion Act. Public comments are invited until July 28, 2025.1
Amid escalating global challenges of resource scarcity and climate change, resource circulation has been widely recognized as essential to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals and net-zero commitments. To align with this trend, Taiwan seeks to advance its legal framework by transitioning from traditional waste treatment to a comprehensive life-cycle resource management model—one that optimizes resource use and minimizes waste. The current draft represents a key step in this direction, outlining the following key highlights:
Formulation of a National Resource Circulation Plan
Given the need for overarching guidance in promoting resource circulation, the draft mandates that MOENV establish a national resource circulation plan, grounded in a thorough evaluation of relevant local and global developments. To ensure public participation and address practical needs, this plan shall be made public, and reviewed at least once every five years. An annual progress report on its implementation is also required, and shall be disclosed. In alignment with the national plan, local authorities shall develop corresponding action plans, publish yearly performance reports, and carry out reviews at five-year intervals or more frequently as needed.
To facilitate coordinated promotion of the national resource circulation plan across ministries, MOENV is tasked with establishing a Resource Circulation Promotion Committee. This committee will comprise representatives from relevant government agencies, academic experts, and environmental organizations.
Development of Regulatory Measures for Resource Circulation
In support of resource circulation, the draft reinforces existing restrictions on certain products, as well as their associated packaging and containers. It also introduces additional limits on packaging used for transport, display, and sale. Moreover, the draft unveils a combination of mandatory and voluntary initiatives to improve product sustainability. These include criteria for green design, targets for the reuse and reduction of packaging and containers, and measures to extend product lifespan.
While the draft sets the overall framework, detailed provisions—covering quantitative targets, applicable scopes, verification criteria and validity periods, as well as procedures for application, renewal, and cancellation—will be defined in forthcoming regulations issued by MOENV.
Enhancement of Labelling Obligations for Resource Circulation
As part of its resource circulation efforts, the draft proposes a new circulation mark for qualifying products and services. Entities such as manufacturers, importers, distributors, and service providers will be required to adhere to corresponding labelling obligations. The criteria for obtaining the mark, required application documents, and labelling specifications will be specified in subsequent MOENV regulations.
In addition to the circulation mark, the draft updates existing labelling provisions for designated recyclable articles and containers, including a new mandate for digital labelling of recycling information. The draft also formally incorporates the Green Mark certification into the legislative framework, requiring enterprises that have obtained the certification to report their use of the mark, along with related production and sales volumes. MOENV will further clarify these requirements through follow-up regulations.
