China
GB 30000, GB/T 16483-2008, GB/T 17519-2013 and GB 15258-2009

How is GHS implemented
in China?

China implements the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) through a set of National Standards called Guobiao (GB) that establish the requirements for the classification, preparation of SDS and labeling of chemical substances. The main objective is to prevent accidents and protect human and environmental health by strengthening safety controls on hazardous chemicals.

What are the GB Standards?

China adopts different editions of the GHS through various national Standards for the:

• Classification:
  • GB 30000.1-2024: Specification for the Classification and Labelling of Chemical - Part 1: General Rules. It entered into force on August 1, 2025 and implements SGA 8. The competent authority is the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
  • GB 30000.2-2013 to GB 30000.29-2013: each Standard specifies a hazard. They have been in force since November 1, 2014 and apply GHS 4. It is estimated that the new GB 30000.30-2025 Standard on Desensitized Explosives will enter into force on July 1, 2026. The competent authority is the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), as well as the following Standards that will be mentioned below.
• Elaboration of SDS:
  • GB/T 16483-2008: Safety Data Sheet for Chemical Producst: Content and Order of Sections. It establishes the structure, content and general format of the SDS. In force since February 1, 2009. It is a recommended standard.
  • GB/T 17519-2013: Guidance on the Compilation of Safety Data Sheets for Chemical Products. In force since January 31, 2014. It is a recommended standard that complements the previous one based on GHS 4.
• Labeling:
  • GB 15258-2009: General Rules for Preparation of Chemical Safety Label. It entered into force on May 1, 2010. It currently implements GHS 2, but the draft was published to update it and make it match GB 30000.1-2024 to align with GHS 8. In addition, this GB Standard is complemented by GB 190-2009, which sets specific standards on the requirements of pictograms, size and color of the labeling of hazardous chemicals.

The general framework establishing the mandatory compliance with GHS Standards in China is regulated by the State Council Decree No. 591, called Regulations on the Control over Safety of Hazardous Chemicals. It has been in force since December 1, 2011. A Project Law on the Safety of Hazardous Chemical Substances has been drafted to replace it, which is currently under review due to the public consultation issued by the National People's Congress of China (NPC) concluded on January 23, 2025. Its objective is to cover the safe management of chemical substances during their life cycle.

The GB Standards apply to hazardous chemicals in general, although the following product categories are excluded: cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food additives, pesticide residues in food.

What are the most relevant points of the GB Standards?

• Both the SDS and label must be written in Chinese language.
  • A national emergency telephone number should be available 24 hours a day.
• The SDS should follow the format of 16 sections with some peculiarities such as:
  • Section 1 should include a paragraph referring to the ”Overview of the Emergency situation".
  • Section 2 should include 6 sub-sections, adding specific information for physical hazards, for human health and the environment.
• The following hazard categories have not been adopted under the Chinese GHS: Flammable gas, category 1A (including pyrophoric gases) and 1B; Chemicals under pressure, all categories.
• The new hazard class of Desensitized Explosives is introduced.
• Foreign companies wishing to manufacture or import chemical substances must assign a single agent or representative to assume legal responsibility for registration obligations.
• Minimum labeling requirements include: product and supplier identification, pictograms, warning words, H and P phrases, 24-hour emergency phone number.
  • The size of the label is proportional to the size of the package. If the container has a volume of less than 0.1 liters, a simplified label can be used where the P phrases do not need to be placed.
  • The pictogram may have a black border for household use only.

What other chemical regulatory requirements apply in China?

• The Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC) is a list with public and confidential sections, which catalogues the existing chemical substances in China by name. It has more than 46 thousand registered substances.

  Chemicals not included in IECSC are considered “new chemical substances” and must be registered, evaluated and approved (by certification) before their introduction, production, import or use in the Chinese market. This registration must be carried out at the Solid Waste and Chemical Products Management Center (SCC) of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (MEE) as indicated in Order No. 12 of the MEE that entered into force on January 1, 2021. There are three types of registration:

  • Registration notification: substances manufactured or imported in an annual volume of less than 1 ton and polymers containing less than 2% of monomers or reactants, or polymers of low concern.
  • Simplified registration: substances manufactured or imported in an annual volume between 1 and 10 tons.
  • Regular registration: substances manufactured or imported in an annual volume greater than 10 tons.
• The standards GB 12268-2025: List of dangerous goods and GB 6944-2025: Classification and Code of Dangerous Goods, published by SAMR and SAC, entered into force on October 1, 2025 to comply with the 23rd edition of the United Nations Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. They establish that if a manufacturer or importer manipulates a listed substance, a production or use license must be obtained and comply with the correct labeling.
• The Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR) came into force on January 1, 2021 and states that cosmetic products must be registered and notified to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) before being placed on the market.
• The general framework for pesticide management has been established in Decree No. 677 on the Regulation of Pesticide Administration in force since June 1, 2017. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published under Decree No. 3, the Measures for the Administration of the Pesticide Registry. They entered into force on August 1, 2017. The Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals (ICAMA) is responsible for ensuring compliance.
• The recommended national reference Standard for detergents manufactured or imported in China is GB/T 26396-2011, on Technical Specification for the Safety of Soaps and Detergents. It has been in force since October 1, 2012 and classifies products according to type and use. The regulatory entity in charge of ensuring its compliance is SAMR. A draft mandatory standard is currently being evaluated to update it.

To ensure compliance with legislation it is important to have an effective tool.

SIAM offers Chemeter, an intuitive and user-friendly software software that automatically generates safety data sheets (SDS), e-FDS, ADR documentation, PCN dossiers and sector-specific documentation in accordance with the requirements of each country. So you can keep your documents up to date and comply with current regulations easily and effectively.

Experience Chemeter in action. Request your free demo and see how it simplifies compliance for your business.