Taiwan Fully Implements GHS Revision 8 Through CNS Standards

On 25 April 2025, Taiwan completed its transition to the eighth revised edition of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 8). Full implementation was achieved through the publication of updated Chinese National Standards (CNS) under the CNS 15030 series. 

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), led the adoption process, releasing the revised standards in three phases: 

• 24 October 2024: Ten standards covering physical hazards were published. 

• 24 February 2025: Ten standards on health hazards were issued, including the new hazard class for desensitized explosives. 

• 25 April 2025: Two standards addressing environmental hazards and the general rules for classification and labelling were finalized. 

This phased approach aligns Taiwan’s chemical classification and labelling framework with UN GHS 8 and marks a significant upgrade from the previously adopted GHS 4, which had been in force since December 2014. 

Key Updates to the CNS 15030 Standards 

The updated standards introduce several critical changes, including: 

• New Hazard Class: Desensitized explosives (CNS 15030-29) added. 

• Flammable Gases: Category 1 is now subdivided into 1A and 1B, distinguishing pyrophoric and chemically unstable gases. 

• Aerosols: Category 3 introduced along with and a new class name – Aerosol and Chemicals under Pressure. 

• Revised Criteria: Updates to the definitions, classification criteria, and testing guidelines for acute toxicity, skin corrosion/irritation, and serious eye damage/irritation. 

Background 

Taiwan initiated the revision process in 2024, with the draft CNS 15030 standards undergoing public consultation in June of that year. In total, 23 of the 29 CNS 15030 series standards were revised to reflect GHS 8 provisions. The full list of updated standards is now accessible via the CNS Online Portal. 

Previous Implementation 

Taiwan previously implemented GHS 4 through notices issued by the Ministry of Labour and the Environmental Protection Administration in 2014. That version served as the basis for CNS 15030-1 to CNS 15030-28.