New Standard for Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods in China – To Be Implemented Soon!

GB 21668-2025 Safety Technical Specifications of Vehicles for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods was issued on October 5, 2025. This new standard replaces three previous national standards: GB 20300—2018 Safety Specifications for Road Transportation Vehicle of Explosive Substance and Chemical Toxic Substance, GB 21668—2008 Provisions of Vehicles for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods with Regard to Their Specific Constructional Features, and GB 36220—2018 Safety Technical Requirements of Oil Transport Tankers and Refueling Tankers. The new national standard will take effect on July 1 of this year.

The new standard comprehensively upgrades the appearance of vehicles carrying dangerous goods, enhancing road safety warning effectiveness. It unifies the exterior markings of various dangerous goods transport vehicles, expanding the marking content to include speed limits, UN numbers of dangerous goods, hazard nature, and emergency response methods. In addition, the new standard for the first time specifies special requirements for the use of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for the carriage of dangerous goods. However, BEVs are permitted only for the transport of non-flammable, non-toxic gases under Division 2.2 of GB 6944—2025 and miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles of Class 9.

Apart from structural adjustments and editorial changes, the main technical changes in the new standard are as follows:

1.Amends the term "dangerous goods" and its definition;

2.Deletes the terms "explosives", "tank volume" and their definitions;

3.Deletes the terms "residual oil quantity", "tyre burst emergency safety device", "rollover prevention control system" and their definitions;

4.Adds the terms "vehicle for the carriage of dangerous goods", "lorry for the carriage of dangerous goods", "atmospheric pressure tank vehicle for the carriage of dangerous goods", "pressure tank vehicle for the carriage of dangerous goods", "medical waste", "light fuel oil", "control temperature", "volume", "combustion heater", "dangerous goods vehicle marking", "safety sign board", "electronically controlled vehicle stability control system" and their definitions;

5.Amends the term "highly toxic chemicals" and its definition;

6.Amends the classification of vehicles for the carriage of dangerous goods;

7.Deletes the loading mass and tank volume restrictions for van-type vehicles transporting highly toxic chemicals, explosive substances and articles;

8.Amends the requirements for the installation of cargo securing devices;

9.Adds requirements for tail lifts;

10.Adds requirements for the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems, axle lift prohibition, electronic stability control systems, and active safety devices;

11.Adds requirements for safety accessories;

12.Adds the standards that automotive cables must meet;

13.Deletes the requirements for coupling devices between towing vehicles and full trailers;

14.Amends the requirements for fire extinguishers;

15.Amends the requirements for fuel systems;

16.Changes "fuel heater" to "combustion heater" and amends the relevant requirements;

17.Adds requirements for the installation of electronically controlled pneumatic braking systems (EBS);

18.Changes "tachograph" to "on-board terminal" and amends the relevant requirements;

19.Adds requirements for dangerous goods vehicle markings;

20.Amends the design and requirements of safety sign boards;

21.Adds requirements for the design and position of speed limit signs;

22.Amends the requirements for the safety distance at the rear of tanks;

23.Amends the strength requirements for overturn protection devices for top fittings;

24.Adds requirements for the position of loading and unloading valves;

25.Amends the content concerning dedicated components and systems;

26.Adds special requirements for vehicles carrying dangerous goods containers, special requirements for CT-type vehicles, special requirements for vehicles used to transport dangerous goods of specific classes and divisions, and special requirements for battery electric vehicles used for the carriage of dangerous goods.

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Further Information

GB 21668-2025