▪︎ GHS, REACH, SDB
China Steps Up Management of Hazardous Chemicals: State Council Approves Draft Legislation
On November 22, the Chinese State Council approved draft legislation to control hazardous chemicals in China. The upcoming law replaces the Decree on the Safe Handling of Hazardous Substances (Decree 591), which has been in force since 2011.
The draft was discussed and approved at a meeting chaired by the head of government, Li Qiang. The regulation is intended to facilitate the handling of hazardous substances throughout the entire supply chain.
Safety at all levels
The meeting focused on safety management and how to minimize safety risks in the future. The Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) holds responsibility for implementing the new measures. In principle, the production of hazardous chemicals should be based on the principles of “people-first,” “life-first,” “safety-first,” and “prevention-first.”
Accidents: the driving force
The background to the increased safety efforts is the high number of serious accidents in chemical plants, which are often caused by dilapidated facilities. The MEM work plan now provides for the removal or repair of old chemical plants and better training of staff in the handling of hazardous chemicals.
GHS Rev.4: the benchmark
In addition to Decree 591 for the regulation of hazardous substance management, MEE Regulation 12 (Provisions for the Environmental Management of New Chemical Substances or China REACH) applies in China. According to both regulations, safety data sheets for hazardous substances must be created in accordance with the Chinese GHS (based on GHS Rev.4).
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