China's Inventory of Existing Chemicals IECSC adds 34 new substances

China has added 34 new substances to the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC). These include compounds with various industrial uses, such as catalysts, solvents and polymer additives. The update of the IECSC is in response to China's regulation of new substances, which requires prior registration for manufacture or import.

History of China's new chemical registration regulations

In China, the regulation on registration of new chemical substances was introduced in 2003 by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MOEE). In 2010, this regulation was updated for the first time and the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC) was established under Order No. 7, with the aim of cataloguing existing chemical substances in China.

This inventory is a crucial tool to regulate and control the activities related to these substances in the country, ensuring their proper management and minimising potential risks to the environment and public health.

Inventory composition and regular updates

Currently, the IECSC contains 46,192 chemical substances, which are categorised by name. Regular updates are made to keep the database up to date and to ensure that substances are correctly classified.

The Inventory is divided into two parts, one public and one confidential:

• •The public part contains substances accessible for general consultation.
• •The confidential part of the Inventory contains 3,270 substances that require a formal request for verification and are subject to a fee set by the China Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Centre (SCC).

Impact of the addition of new chemicals

The addition of 34 new substances to the IECSC directly impacts the availability and regulation of chemicals in the Chinese market. These new substances have a wide variety of chemical properties and applications, contributing to the diversification of the IECSC. The added substances include compounds used in cosmetics, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, among other sectors. They are also characterised by their relevance in industrial production and their potential impact on the environment and public health.

Responsibilities and obligations of companies in IECSC review

• •Regularly check whether the substances used are included in the IECSC.
• •Update chemical information according to changes in the list.
• •Ensure that production processes comply with current regulations.

To this end, companies must complete registration or pre-registration of new chemicals prior to manufacture or import in accordance with current regulations. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in severe sanctions by the competent authorities.

Foreign companies wishing to register new chemicals in China must appoint an Only Representative (OR) with a presence in the country. The Only Representative will act as an intermediary between the foreign company and the relevant authorities in China, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory obligations regarding the registration of chemicals.

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