China's MEE Approves in Principle Revised Draft of New Chemical Substance Registration Measures, Pending Promulgation

At a Glance: China’s MEE approved in principle revised rules for new chemical substance registrations and pollutant discharge permitting. Awaiting final ministerial signature, the updates aim to streamline compliance, strengthen source control, and reform oversight. Businesses should audit substance inventories, track transitional registration requirements, and prepare for updated permitting classifications once finalized.

On October 15, 2026, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) held an executive meeting, at which it deliberated on and approved in principle the Measures for the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (Revised Draft) (hereinafter referred to as the Revised Measures) and the Catalogue for the Classified Management of Pollutant Discharge Permits for Stationary Pollution Sources (Revised Draft) (hereinafter referred to as the Revised Catalogue). 

Both documents will undergo further adjustments based on feedback from the meeting. Once final revisions are complete, the Minister will sign the documents into formal ministerial orders. Their release will directly impact environmental compliance for companies that produce, import, or discharge chemical substances in China.

Key Regulatory Goals

According to the MEE:

• The Revised Measures aim to streamline new chemical substance registrations, strengthen source-level pollution control, encourage the substitution of toxic/hazardous substances, and promote the adoption of green chemicals.
• The Revised Catalogue will further reform the pollutant discharge permitting system by implementing a classified, tiered control model. It advances a integrated "one-permit" management approach, strengthens synergy with Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), and improves oversight of stationary pollution sources.

Regulatory Background & Timeline

1. Measures for the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (Revised Draft)

The current framework—Measures for the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order No. 12)—has been in effect since January 1, 2021. To align with the Ecological Environment Code of the PRC, which took effect on August 15, 2026, the MEE released the a revised Measures on June 11, 2026 and seek public comments until July 12, 2026. This draft proposed major overhauls, including changes to applicant eligibility, registration types, exemption scopes, polymer management, and supply chain responsibilities.

Subsequently, to manage the transition period before the revised Measures take effect, the MEE General Office issued a notice on August 4, 2026. It confirmed that, as of August 15, 2026, record-filings for new chemical substances would end, and all related matters would instead be handled under simplified registration procedures, establishing clear transitional arrangements ahead of the formal release of the revised Measures.

2. Catalogue for the Classified Management of Pollutant Discharge Permits for Stationary Pollution Sources (Revised Draft)

The current Classification administration list of pollutant discharge permitting for fixed pollution sources (2019) has been in effect for many years; MEE had released the revised draft for public comment on December 5, 2025 and solicited public comments until January 5, 2026.

Current Status: Approval in Principle while Full Text Not Yet Released

It is important to note that approval "in principle" does not mean the final regulations have been officially issued.

The full texts deliberated at the October 15 meeting remain internal and unpublished. The public currently only has access to the earlier consultation drafts. The ministry will incorporate the meeting feedback into the drafts. After these internal revisions are complete and signed by the Minister, the final texts will be published as official ministerial orders. The full texts deliberated at the executive meeting will be released accordingly.

CIRS will continue monitoring these developments and issue immediate updates upon official publication.

CIRS Recommendations for Industry

In light of these developments, CIRS recommends that enterprises producing or importing new chemical substances and other relevant enterprises pay attention to the following:

• Base compliance judgments on the formally published text: The full text of the drafts as deliberated at this meeting has not been released, and it remains unknown how the formal order texts will adopt or adjust the content of the drafts for public comment. For compliance arrangements such as the choice of registration type and the determination of exemptions, enterprises should treat the formally published texts as the final basis, and avoid anticipating the final requirements directly from the drafts for public comment;
• Assess the impact of the revision in advance: With reference to the adjustment directions in the previous draft for public comment (registration subjects, registration types, scope of exemptions, etc.), enterprises may sort out the list of substances they are involved with, assess the potential impact once the revision is formally implemented, and set aside preparation time for the subsequent transition;
• Check the current record-filing status: Since August 15, 2026, record-filing for the environmental management of new chemical substances has ceased to be processed, and matters originally handled through record-filing have been transferred to the registration procedures. Enterprises concerned should check the status of their substances under the current Measures to ensure compliance continuity during the transition;
• Follow the revision of the Catalogue in parallel: Pollutant-discharging entities may follow the adjustments to industry categories after the revised Catalogue is formally issued, and verify at that time, against the industry to which their enterprise belongs, any changes in the key management, simplified management or registration management categories, completing the procedures for applying for or varying pollutant discharge permits promptly.

Related Reading

CIRS has previously published the following interpretive articles on the revision process of Order No. 12:

• Breaking News! The Registration System for New Chemical Substances in China Undergoes a Major Overhaul” (June 12, 2026)
• Attention! Four Key Changes as New Chemical Substance Filing Converts to Registration” (August 17, 2026)

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