In this edition of the Chemical Watch news podcast editorial director Geraint Roberts, Asia reporter Ellen Daliday and North America managing editor Terry Hyland join global managing editor Kate Lowe to discuss three of the week's biggest news stories. The episode begins with a look at the European Commission’s keenly awaited chemicals strategy for sustainability, which was published on the 14 October and lays out more than 50 wide-ranging actions that will have a direct impact on industry. We also take a look at the decision of the Canadian government to ban six categories of single-use plastics by the end of next year – and has kick-started the process with an official proposal to add plastic manufactured items to the country’s list of toxic substances. And finally, the discussion turns to Taiwan where the country’s EPA is consulting on its proposed fees for chemicals registration, including plans for a reduced fee if companies use alternative methods to animal testing.