China’s Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law was officially adopted on December 27, 2025, following its third review at the 19th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress. The law came into effect in May 2026, marking a major shift in how hazardous chemicals are regulated across their entire lifecycle.
Key Changes Introduced
1. Full Lifecycle Regulation
The law regulates hazardous chemicals from:
- Manufacture
- Storage
- Sale and distribution
- Use
- Transportation
- Registration
- Emergency response and accident management
This creates a “cradle-to-grave” compliance framework rather than regulating only selected stages of the supply chain.
2. Stronger Legal Authority
The previous system relied largely on administrative regulations. The new law elevates chemical safety requirements to national legislation, giving regulators greater enforcement powers and increasing penalties for non-compliance.
3. Expanded Registration Requirements
Hazardous chemicals that are:
- Listed in China’s hazardous chemical catalogue,
- Identified as hazardous through testing, or
- Meet hazard classification criteria,
must be registered and managed under the new system. Companies dealing with substances that previously fell into regulatory grey areas may now face additional obligations.
4. Digital Traceability Requirements
China is implementing a comprehensive electronic tracking system for hazardous chemicals, including:
- Digital registration
- QR-code traceability
- Electronic monitoring of chemical movements
- Greater visibility throughout the supply chain
The objective is to make hazardous chemicals traceable from production through to end use.
5. Increased Customs Oversight
For the first time, China’s customs authorities have an explicit role in supervising hazardous chemical imports and exports. Exporters may face:
- Additional compliance checks
- Verification of traceability information
- Potential shipment delays if documentation is incomplete
This is particularly important for companies exporting chemicals, batteries, paints, adhesives, solvents and other regulated products from China.
6. Stricter Enterprise Responsibilities
Companies must implement:
- Hazard identification and risk assessment processes
- Safety management systems
- Employee training
- Emergency response planning
- Internal compliance monitoring
Senior management can be held personally accountable for serious breaches.
7. Higher Penalties
Penalties may include:
- Significant fines
- Suspension of operations
- Revocation of licences
- Closure of facilities
- Criminal liability in serious cases
The law substantially increases the consequences of non-compliance compared with previous regulations.
Why This Matters for Australian Importers and Manufacturers
For Australian companies importing products from China, the law may affect:
- Industrial chemicals
- Paints and coatings
- Cleaning chemicals
- Adhesives and sealants
- Lithium batteries
- Electronics containing batteries
- Mining and industrial products
You may see:
- Longer supplier compliance processes
- Additional documentation requirements
- Increased scrutiny of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
- More detailed chemical classification and traceability information from Chinese suppliers.
Implications for Lupin Chemical Management Users
For Australian importers and manufacturers using chemical management software, the new Chinese law makes it increasingly important to:
- Maintain accurate SDS libraries.
- Verify supplier classifications.
- Track imported hazardous substances.
- Maintain current chemical registers.
- Ensure imported chemicals are correctly classified under both Chinese and Australian GHS requirements.
The increased emphasis on digital traceability aligns closely with the trend toward electronic chemical registers and automated SDS management systems.
If you’d like, I can also provide a “China Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law 2026 – Compliance Checklist for Australian Importers and Manufacturers” that could be used as a Lupin lead magnet or client advisory.