On March 12, 2024, MIIT solicited opinions on the revised mandatory national standard 'GB 13690 Rules for classification and labeling of chemicals—Part 1: General specification (draft for approval).' The deadline for opinions is April 12, 2024.

This standard specifies the terms and definitions related to chemical classification and labeling, as well as the general principles of chemical hazard classification, labeling, and chemical safety data sheets. It is applicable to the classification and labeling of chemicals according to the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Drugs, food additives, cosmetics, and residual pesticides in food, when intentionally ingested, are not covered by the labeling requirements of this document.

This document will replace its 2009 edition. This revision adds classification for sensitizing explosives and adjusts the requirements for certain threshold/concentration limits, thus aligning its technical content with the United Nations' GHS (Eighth revised edition).

The 'Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals' are the primary regulations in China governing the safe production, storage, use, operation, and transportation of hazardous chemicals. This standard will serve as a key technical guideline for implementing these regulations, thereby influencing the entry of hazardous chemicals into China.