On August 31, 2021, Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE)released statistics on the new chemical substance record notifications in the first half of 2021. In total, 2,648 record notifications were received, covering more than 3,000 new chemical substances. The details can be accessed here[1], including applicant (and its representative agent), time, receipt number, and the amount of new chemical substances recorded.
The Measures for the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (hereinafter referred to as the MEE Order No. 12[2]) took effect on January 1 this year. It thoroughly modified the previous notification types of new chemical substances into regular registration, simplified registration and record notification. New chemical substances manufactured or imported in quantities below 1 ton per year, polymers containing less than 2% of a new chemical monomer/reactant or PLCs are subject to record notification.
Notably, there is no approval for record notification, which means that businesses can start relevant activities immediately after submitting application materials and receiving the receipt sent via the online registration system. The MEE will only conduct spot checks of the materials.
According to MEE Order No. 12, only an applicant can be the holder of registration certificate. An overseas applicant can designate a representative agent to jointly fulfill the obligations regarding the registration of new chemical substances and the post-registration environmental management. Enterprises shall have a clear knowledge of their obligations as applicants or representatives.
