China Seeks Public Feedback on New Draft Law for Hazardous Chemicals Safety

On December 25, 2024, the National People's Congress of China began seeking public opinions online for seven draft laws, including the "Law on the Safety of Hazardous Chemicals." Comments are welcomed before January 23, 2025.

Details on how to submit opinions can be viewed via the following official link:

http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c2/kgfb/202412/t20241225_442053.html

Background

As a major global producer, user, importer, and consumer of hazardous chemicals, China faces increasingly severe safety production situations. To strengthen the safety management of the entire chain and various links of hazardous chemicals, and to enhance the modernization level of the safety governance system and capabilities, the enactment of the "Law on the Safety of Hazardous Chemicals" is particularly urgent.

Main Content

The draft stipulates the planning and layout of hazardous chemicals in the People's Republic of China, safety in production and storage, safety in use, safety in business operations, transportation safety, registration of hazardous chemicals and emergency response to accidents, and legal responsibilities. It applies to the safety management of the production, storage, use, business, and transportation of hazardous chemicals.

Key Points

• Employees of hazardous chemical units must undergo education and training, and pass an assessment before starting work;
• Hazardous chemicals are to be managed and monitored throughout their lifecycle using electronic identification and information management;
• Producers and importers of hazardous chemicals must provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and labels that match the chemicals they produce or import, with penalties for non-compliance;
• Hazardous chemicals that are low in quantity and release, and have low exposure during research and development, trial production, and marketing trials are exempt from registration;
• No unit or individual may engage in activities involving chemicals whose hazardous properties have not been determined.

Chapters

The draft consists of 9 chapters (124 articles), namely:

• General Provisions;
• Planning and Layout;
• Safety in Production and Storage;
• Safety in Use;
• Safety in Business Operations;
• Transportation Safety;
• Registration of Hazardous Chemicals and Emergency Response to Accidents;
• Legal Responsibilities; and
• Supplementary Provisions.

For detailed content of the draft, visit https://www.chemradar.com/rsdb/detail/e81ci9naqnls

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