On 16 November 2012, the official final version of the “Measures for the Administration of Hazardous Chemicals Safe Use Permit” was signed and published by the director-general of the Chinese SAWS. This new legislation is coded as SAWS Order 57 and will enter into force since 1 May 2013. Prior to this, SAWS had released in October 2011 a draft proposal of this legislation for a 40-day public consultation.

SAWS Order 57 was enacted based on Article 29 of Decree 591, which states that companies (except for HC manufacturers) who use hazardous chemicals to produce a different product (hereinafter as HC users) and whose use of quantities reaches a given volume set in relevant national rules must obtain a hazardous chemicals safe use permit (hereinafter as Safe Use Permit). The aim of the legislation is to strengthen the market access standard of HC users and regulate the application and issuance of the Safe Use Permit.

Composed of seven chapters, SAWS Order 57 specifies the application pre-conditions, submitted documents, license management & supervision, legal liabilities and a supplementary chapter on important terms and definitions involved in the legislation.