Global Chemical Regulation Highlights | March 2025

China

On March 4, 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published the GB 30000.X-202X Rules for classification and labelling of chemicals — Part X: Desensitized explosives (Draft for Approval) to solicit further feedback from the public until March 11, 2025. Once adopted, this mandatory national standard is expected to be assigned to GB 30000.30. It shall take effect 12 months after its issuance to provide the industry with enough time to prepare for compliance. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in China:

• China to Tighten Hazardous Chemical Management, Industries Facing Compliance Challenges
  

• China to Revise Standards on Dangerous Goods Nomenclature and Packaging Groups
  

• China MEE Publishes New Chemical Record Notification Statistics in 2024 H2
  

• China Encourages Import of Recycled Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries

• China's Control on Fentanyl-related Substances

• China Updates GB 9685-2016 Standard for the Use of Additives in Food Contact Materials and Articles

• China Food Contact Materials Updates in 2025: CFSA Consulted on Three New Food-related Products

• China Introduces Regulatory Limits of Harmful Substances in Coating for Consumer Products

• China to Revise Regulation to Enhance Green Express Packaging

• Shenzhen Releases Mandatory Standard for Limiting Hazchem in Coating, Adhesives and Cleaning Agents

• Taiwan GHS: Revision of 10 Health Hazard Standards and Adoption of Desensitized Explosives

• Taiwan to Revise MoL’s Regulation on New Chemical Substances Registration

Asia-pacific region

On March 18, 2025, Thailand's Department of Industrial Works (DIW) of the Ministry of Industry notified WTO of the Draft Notification of the Ministry of Industry regarding List of Hazardous Substances (No.8). This draft proposed to designate PeCB and HCBD as Type 4 hazardous substances, prohibitions will apply. Thailand DIW plans to officially publish this revision in the Royal Gazette in April 2025. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in Asia-pacific region:

• Japan to Revise ISHL to Adopt New CBI Rules for Generic Names

• Korea Proposes Handling Limits for 26 Toxic Chemical Substances

• Korea Releases Training Materials for MSDS and GHS Label in 17 Languages

• Korea Launches Self-Reporting Policy for Violations under K-REACH, Penalty Exemptions Apply

• Korea Updates GHS Classification List, Targeting Chrysotile

• Australia Expands Control Scope of Precursor Chemicals

• Australia to Improve Access to Assessment Information on About 700 Chemicals, Including 15 PLCs

• Updates to Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals in March 2025

• India Delays Quality Control Orders for 8 Chemicals

• India Amends Food Packaging Regulations for Recycled PET

• Malaysia Announces Regulatory Approaches on Dechlorane Plus and UV-328

European Union and United Kingdom

The European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) have made significant progress in their evaluation of the EU-wide proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), marking a critical step toward the commitment to phase out all PFAS. (Read more)

More regulation highlights in EU and UK:

• UK RoHS to Update Exemptions for Lead, Mercury and Cadmium in EEE
  

• UK Regulates Dechlorane Plus, UV-328 and Methoxychlor
  

• UK REACH Fees and Charges Significantly Adjusted from 1 April 2025

• UK HSE Assesses PFAS Used as Processing Aids and Considers Restriction on PFAS in Firefighting Foam

• UK Consults on PBDD/Fs and PBCDD/Fs Proposed as POPs

• ECHA: Member States Plan to Evaluate 28 Substances in 2025-2027