Safety Data Sheet (SDS) management is a comprehensive compliance system rather than mere paperwork. Driven by global GHS standards, compliance requires localized SDS authoring, precise ingredient disclosure, and accurate transport classifications. Even non-hazardous goods, foods, cosmetics, or metals may require safety documentation depending on processing risks and local regulations.

On August 7, 2026, MIIT opened a public consultation on two mandatory national standards for the classification and labelling of flammable liquids and oxidizing solids.

From August 15, 2026, China has ceased new chemical substance filing and converted all former filing matters into registration under the simplified registration procedure.

China’s MEE Announcement No. 40 of 2026 added 486 substances to the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC), including 482 previously under Order No. 7 regular registration. While transitioning these chemicals off new-substance registration, roughly 40% remain subject to strict new-use management rules, necessitating immediate compliance verification.

China’s chemical inventory of existing chemical substances is IECSC, which stands for the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances Produced or Imported in China (IECSC). There are two parts of IECSC, public part and classified/confidential part. Companies can check out the public part by themselves and shall only enquire Authorities for classified/confidential part. If substances are not listed in the public part, companies have to submit a formal enquiry to SCC to check whether a substance is listed in the confidential part. The enquiry costs 3000 RMB.

Effective August 15, 2026, China's MEE will eliminate new chemical filings to align with the Ecological and Environmental Code. Enterprises must submit simplified registration applications instead. Furthermore, foreign entities can no longer apply directly or modify certificates, making local Chinese importers the eligible applicants going forward.

According to the latest WTO public documents, China has submitted a TBT notification for the Measures for the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (Revised Draft for Public Comment) (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures (Revised Draft for Public Comment)"), incorporating it into the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) notification procedure. The notification number is G/TBT/N/CHN/1351/Rev.1, and the document date is July 1, 2026.

In this article, we will introduce the six major red lines for hazardous chemicals compliance that enterprises are particularly concerned about.

On July 8, 2026, MIIT opened a public consultation on mandatory TPU hazardous substance limits for eight chemicals.

On July 10, 2026, China's MOFCOM and GAC jointly imposed a temporary export prohibition on helium.