CHINA HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS | REGULATORY UPDATE
China has formally repealed the Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals. The repeal appears in Annex 2, Item 3 of the State Council Decision on Amending and Repealing Certain Administrative Regulations, published by Xinhua on November 5, 2026. The Decision takes effect upon publication.
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Review the legal change and practical actions for your China operations.
What the Repeal Changes
The repeal does not remove hazardous chemical safety obligations or create a new compliance grace period. The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Safety of Hazardous Chemicals (the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law) has been in force since May 1, 2026. Businesses manufacturing, importing, storing, trading, transporting or using hazardous chemicals in China should review their safety procedures and business documents against the Law and applicable implementing requirements.
The Decision amends provisions in 14 administrative regulations and repeals four. It forms part of a regulatory review intended to streamline local planning requirements, reflect institutional reforms and align administrative regulations with applicable legislation.
The repealed Regulations were originally promulgated under State Council Order No. 344 in 2002, revised under State Council Order No. 591 in 2011, and revised again in 2013. They previously served as a principal administrative basis for hazardous chemical safety management.
The Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law was adopted at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on December 27, 2025, and promulgated by Presidential Order No. 64. Its 10 chapters and 127 articles cover planning and siting, production and storage, use, business operations, transport, hazardous chemical registration, emergency rescue and legal liability. REACH24H's overview of China's Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law explains the broader framework.
Review Chinese SDS Content and Legal References
Regulatory affairs and product stewardship teams should review references to the repealed Regulations in Chinese safety data sheets (SDSs), in particular Section 15 (regulatory information). Where the Regulations are presented as current law, update the reference to the applicable legal basis, including the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law. Replacing the legal title alone is insufficient: the technical content must also meet current requirements.
Article 31 of the Law requires hazardous chemical manufacturers and importers to provide Chinese SDSs and Chinese safety labels corresponding to their chemicals and meeting national standards. Previously issued SDSs should be reviewed document by document for outdated regulatory information and other necessary revisions, and templates for future documents should be updated.
This review should address substantive SDS and labeling compliance, including issues that may be identified during emergency management or customs inspections. Article 101 provides for corrective orders and penalties for specified failures involving SDSs and labels. REACH24H provides China GHS, SDS and label compliance support, including document preparation and updating.
Check Registration Exemption Conditions
Article 87 provides for exemptions from hazardous chemical registration for specified chemicals involving low quantities, low releases and low exposure during research and development, trial production and trial marketing. It assigns the formulation of detailed exemption measures to the State Council's emergency management department together with other designated departments.
Research use or a small quantity alone should not be treated as sufficient grounds for exemption. Manufacturers and importers should verify the applicable conditions and current implementing rules before relying on an exemption.
Three Priorities for Compliance Teams
The review extends beyond chemical manufacturers to importers, warehouse operators, distributors, transport providers and downstream users handling hazardous chemicals. REACH24H recommends the following actions.
Update legal registers and operational documents. Mark the Regulations as repealed and check references in internal policies, operating procedures, purchase and sales contracts, and supplier audit documents. Compare cited provisions with current requirements rather than retaining obsolete content under a replacement legal title.
Review obligations by business role. Assess licensing, registration, employee training, SDSs and labels, storage controls, and emergency measures according to the activities each entity performs. Overseas suppliers should coordinate with their Chinese importers on the information needed for applicable obligations.
Check the status of implementing rules. Monitor provisions on registration exemptions, transport management and digital supervision. Do not assume every implementing document that cites the repealed Regulations is automatically invalid; assess its current status and applicability individually.
The Law's entry into force and the formal repeal of the Regulations are separate compliance milestones. Businesses should now assess existing controls against requirements already in force and track the development, revision and enforcement of implementing rules.
How REACH24H Can Help
REACH24H supports:
Chinese SDS and label preparation and updating.
To discuss the scope of a review, contact customer@reach24h.com with your current Chinese SDSs, available product information and planned activities in China.
Review Your Chinese SDSs and Registration Requirements
Share your existing Chinese SDSs, available product information and planned activities in China to discuss the scope of support.
Recommended Reading
China's New Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law: Key Changes and Compliance Impact
Chemical Mixtures in China: Hazard Identification, Registration and SDS Requirements
Official References
State Council Decision on Amending and Repealing Certain Administrative Regulations, Xinhua authorized publication, November 5, 2026; Annex 2, Item 3.
Presidential Order No. 64, December 27, 2025; promulgation and effective date of the Law (Chinese text in the court law database).
Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law, full Chinese text published by the State Administration for Market Regulation; Articles 31, 87 and 101.
English titles of Chinese legal instruments are reference translations. The linked sources provide the Chinese legal text.
