On 7 December 2013, the Chinese State Council issued the revised version of Regulations on the Control over Safety of Hazardous Chemicals by Decree No. 645. The 2013 Version, which addresses the safe management of hazardous chemicals during their production, storage, use, operation (sales and import) and transport, will be put into effect on 7 December 2013.

The regulation was initially enacted in 1987 and has gone through three modifications, in 2002, 2011 and 2013. The earliest version has been expanded from 42 to 102 articles, combined with 4 supporting measures and a group of technical GB standards. Therefore the 2013 Version is regarded as the most comprehensive law regulating existing chemicals in China. It is also the main legislation for implementing GHS in China. 

Major updates are made in the following aspect:

The fifth item of Article 6 “The railway administrative department shall be responsible for the safety management of railway transportation for dangerous chemicals, be responsible for the qualification examination of carriers, consignor for dangerous chemicals and their means of transport” is amended to "The railway supervisory department shall be responsible for the railroad transportation for dangerous chemicals and their means of transportation. The competent railway authorities shall be responsible for the safety management of railway transportation of dangerous chemicals and their means of transport".