Seminar on the interpretation of the latest regulations concerning hazardous chemicals and introduction to the China GHS

On 10th July 2015, Seminar on the interpretation of the latest regulations concerning hazardous chemicals and introduction to the China GHS sponsored by CIRS and Chemwatch was successfully held in Shanghai. More than 170 enterprises, with a total of more than 300 individuals, attended the seminar. This seminar mainly aims to provide valuable instructions concerning regulation compliance to enterprises hoping to enter into the Chinese or domestic manufacturing enterprises.

Mr. Chen Jinhe from NRCC and Ms. Pan Jinjing from CIRS respectively gave their speeches. The first speech is given by Mr. Chen Jinhe, which is about the interpretation to national policies on hazardous chemicals. He talked about hazardous chemicals regulations at first. The regulations can be divided into several categories. They are:

Licenses:

1. License for the safety production of hazardous chemicals: chemicals listed in the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals must obtain this license under the guidance of Implementation Rules for License for the Safety Production of Hazardous Chemicals;
2. License for the operation of hazardous chemicals: Under guidance of Management Rules for the License for the Operation of Hazardous Chemicals;
3. License for the use of hazardous chemicals: Under guidance of Implementation Rules for the License for the Use of Hazardous Chemicals;

It is estimated that these three licenses will finally be combined as one in the future in order to streamline licenses and improve work efficiency.

Regulations for the registration of hazardous chemicals:

SAWS Order 53: Chemicals listed in the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals must be registered according to SAWS Order 53;

SAWS Order 60:

There are also chemicals not listed in the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals considered as hazardous chemicals. For this kind of chemicals, authentication must be conducted and labeling be gotten before the registration.

However, as no guidelines to SAWS Order 60 have been issued, it is hard for enterprises to unite their operations for the registration.

Catalogues:

Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals;

Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals for Major Environment Management issued by MEP;

Catalogue of Explosive Chemicals issued by Ministry of Public Security;

National Standards:

GB 13690: General Rules for the Classification of Chemicals and Hazard Communication;

GB 30000.2-GB 30000.29: Classification of chemicals and labeling standard;

GB/T 16483 and GB/T 17519: Recommended national standards for the compilation of safety data sheets;

GB 15258: Rules for the Compilation of the Labeling of Chemicals;

Then he mainly talked about the definition of hazardous chemicals and at last, he talked about the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals 2015 in details.

Changes to Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals:

1. Catalogue of Toxic Chemicals is combined into the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals;
2. The definition of hazardous chemicals is enlarged;
3. Items in the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals is decreased (More than 1000 hazardous chemicals have been deleted from the Catalogue including 187 toxic chemicals);
4. Some chemicals are added into the Catalogue (chemicals listed in Rotterdam Convention, Stockholm Convention, chemicals listed in the Catalogue of Chemicals Restricted from Import and Export;
5. Chemicals that are added due to criminal cases;
6. Articles, military toxics and pesticides are deleted;

Changes to toxic chemicals:

1. 140 toxic chemicals listed in the original Catalogue of Toxic Chemicals are still considered as toxic chemicals;
2. 4 toxic chemicals are added;
3. 4 chemicals listed in the original Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals are now considered as toxic chemicals.
   

Then, Ms. Pan Jingjin from CIRS gave a speech concerning the development of GHS in China and how to make SDSs compliance with hazardous chemicals registration.

She first talked about the issuance of the standards of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals and the amendments.

During her speech, she mentioned that enterprises are required to offer SDSs and labeling compliance with hazardous chemicals registration. Enterprises shall also make amendments to the SDSs and labeling in case new characteristics of the chemicals are found. SDS and labeling are required in the following conditions:

1. Import and export inspection;
2. Hazardous chemicals registration;
3. Security for permission of hazardous chemicals;
4. Carrier of the delivery of supply chain information of enterprises;

She also talked about how to make SDSs compliance with hazardous chemicals registration and some key points.

The last speech was also given by Mr. Chen Jinhe. During the speech, he mainly talked about the current situation and development of the registration of hazardous chemicals and problems enterprises will meet during the registration.

According to Mr. Chen Jinhe, enterprises must go through hazardous chemicals registration for their hazardous chemicals. For chemicals listed in the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals, registration is a must; and for chemicals not listed in the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals, enterprises must identify whether one substance belongs to hazardous chemicals. If it is, enterprises shall also go through registration.

Mr. Chen Jinhe also mentioned that SAWS is predicted to release a list of hazardous chemicals exemption from authentication. Chemicals that are not dangerous or chemicals that are definitely dangerous may be contained in the list. However, the list will not be long.

Enterprises actively communicated with experts between each speech. They raised questions they met at work and got answers. Delegates of enterprises were all pleased with the arrangements of this seminar, hoping that CIRS could hold seminar like this on a regular basis.

Experts in CIRS suggest that enterprises shall learn about the hazardous chemicals regulations and finish the regulation compliance. For any problems, please feel free to contact CIRS. CIRS will give their suggestions to enterprises free of charge.