China Seeks Comments on Two Mandatory GB 30000 Standards for Flammable Liquids and Oxidizing Solids

On August 7, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a notice to seek public comments on two mandatory national standards (drafts for comments), Regulations on the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals—Part 7: Flammable Liquids (Draft for Public Comment) and Regulations on the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals—Part 15: Oxidizing Solids (Draft for Public Comment), through the National Public Service Platform for Standards Information, with comments due by October 20, 2026.

The two standards will respectively replace the current GB 30000.7-2013 and GB 30000.15-2013; their technical content is aligned with the 11th revised edition of the UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), and both change from provision-based to full-text mandatory status. They are proposed to be officially implemented 12 months after publication. Once the standards take effect, the GHS classification, chemical safety labels, and safety data sheets (SDS) of relevant chemical products must comply with the new standards.

Background

The GB 30000 series of mandatory national standards, Rules for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, is the foundational standard for China's implementation of the GHS and for the classification and hazard communication of chemicals. Part 7 and Part 15 were both first issued in 2006 and first revised in 2013, with technical content aligned with GHS Revision 4, and have now been in force for 13 years. Since then, the GHS has undergone multiple revisions, and the classification criteria, decision logic and precautionary statements for flammable liquids (Chapter 2.6) and oxidizing solids (Chapter 2.14) have changed significantly, which prompted the revision of the two standards.

The Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law came into force on May 1, 2026. Under Article 31, safety data sheets and safety labels must comply with the requirements of national standards, and Article 86 incorporates classification and labeling information into hazardous chemicals registration. The two standards are key supporting technical standards for the implementation of this Law.

At present, Part 1 (General), Part 30 (Desensitized Explosives) and Part 31 (Precautionary Signs for Chemicals in Workplaces) of the GB 30000 series were published in 2024, 2025 and 2023 respectively, while the remaining 27 parts (Parts 2 to 14 and 16 to 29) are still the 2013 versions and are being revised simultaneously; the remaining parts will be updated successively.

Main Revisions in Part 7: Flammable Liquids

The draft maintains the classification framework that divides flammable liquids into four categories based on flash point and initial boiling point, namely Category 1 (flash point below 23 °C and initial boiling point not exceeding 35 °C), Category 2 (flash point below 23 °C and initial boiling point above 35 °C), Category 3 (flash point of 23 °C or above but not exceeding 60 °C), and Category 4 (flash point above 60 °C but not exceeding 93 °C); Categories 1 and 2 use the signal word "Danger", while Categories 3 and 4 use "Warning". Compared with the current standard, the main revisions include:

1. Scope adjustment: Note 4 to Table 1 is modified from "aerosols are not flammable liquids" to "aerosols and chemicals under pressure are not flammable liquids".

2. New determination based on open-cup flash points: For liquids that cannot be tested by closed-cup test methods due to viscosity or other reasons, or for which open-cup test data already exist, open-cup test results can be accepted for classification; however, as open-cup results are usually higher than closed-cup results, 5.6 °C shall be subtracted from the measured value.

3. Updated test method standards: The relevant standards for the determination of the flash point and initial boiling point of flammable liquids have been updated.

4. Updated label elements: The flame pictogram, the allocation of label elements and the precautionary statements for each category have been updated, in line with the wording of GHS Revision 11.

Main Revisions in Part 15: Oxidizing Solids

The draft maintains the classification framework that divides oxidizing solids into three categories, with Categories 1 and 2 using the signal word "Danger" and Category 3 using "Warning"; the hazard statements are H271 "May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer" and H272 "May intensify fire; oxidizer," respectively. Compared with the current standard, the main revisions include:

1. National standardization of the test method: The classification test method directly cites GB/T 21617, Dangerous goods-Test methods for oxidizing solids.

2. New classification criteria using Test O.3: A column of "criteria using Test O.3" is added to Table 1 of the classification criteria; in addition to the conventional Test O.1 (determination based on comparing the mean burning time of the mixture of the test sample and cellulose with that of the mixture of potassium bromate and cellulose), a classification route based on Test O.3 (comparing the mean burning rate of the mixture of the test sample and cellulose with that of the mixture of calcium peroxide and cellulose) is added.

3. Updated referenced documents: GB 15258, General rules for preparation of precautionary label for chemicals, is newly added; the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods - Model Regulations is updated to the 24th revised edition; and the IMO International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code is updated to the 2025 edition.

4. Updated label elements and precautionary statements: The allocation of label elements and the precautionary statements are updated in accordance with GHS Revision 11, among which the storage precautionary statement P420 (store separately) is added for Category 1.

Implementation Arrangements

Both standards are recommended to be implemented 12 months after approval and publication, and to repeal GB 30000.7-2013 and GB 30000.15-2013 respectively as of the date of implementation. After implementation, supervision will be carried out within their respective duties by the member units of the inter-ministerial joint conference mechanism for GHS implementation (the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration for Market Regulation, etc.) as well as the Ministry of Public Security. The drafting explanation also recommends notifying the standards to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in accordance with its relevant requirements.

Relevant organizations and experts can submit their comments to the organizing drafting department before October 20, 2026 (contact: Cao Mengran; tel: +86 13426021053; e-mail: cmr_cncet@163.com). The full texts of the drafts and the drafting explanations are available for review and download on the National Public Service Platform for Standards Information.

CIRS Insights

In light of the drafts and the drafting explanations, relevant enterprises are advised to pay attention to the following aspects:

1. Higher compliance requirements: Both standards change from provision-based to full-text mandatory status. Once published, all provisions of the standards will be mandatory requirements, and the enforcement of chemical classification and labeling will become stricter.
2. Review of classification conclusions: Oxidizing solids add classification criteria using Test O.3, and flammable liquids add determination rules based on open-cup flash points and explicitly exclude aerosols and chemicals under pressure; the hazard categories and label elements of relevant substances may change accordingly. It is recommended to review GHS classification data and test reports in advance.
3. Label and SDS updates: After the new standards take effect, the classification information, hazard statements, and precautionary statements in safety labels and SDSs (e.g., the newly added storage precautionary statement P420 for Category 1 oxidizing solids) must comply with the new standards and remain consistent with supporting standards such as GB 15258 and GB 30000.1.
4. Transition arrangements: The two standards are proposed to be implemented 12 months after publication. Enterprises may use the transition period to complete the review of classification and the revision of labels and SDSs, so as to avoid compliance risks arising from the switch of standards.
5. Feedback: Enterprises with comments or suggestions on the standards may submit feedback through the channels listed in the notice before October 20, 2026.

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