A Critical Juncture in China’s Hazchem Management

China has long been practicing chemical management based on chemical lists. Regulatory measures are imposed to a very limited selection of chemicals with well recognized hazardous information. However, many workplace accidents have occurred due to lack of preventative and controlling measures against chemicals with unknown hazards. Realizing the importance of regulating chemicals outside of chemical lists China’s policymakers have reached a critical juncture with the establishment and pending implementation of a new Hazchem registration scheme under SAWS Order 53 (2012) and a physical hazard identification scheme under SAWS Order 60 (2013).