China Moves Forward with Revised Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law

On September 8, 2025, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) conducted the second reading of the draft Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law. The revised draft clarifies that China will establish and improve a national management system for hazardous chemicals catalogues.

According to the draft, the catalogue of hazardous chemicals will be determined and published by the Emergency Management Department of the State Council  together with other relevant ministries. These include the ministries responsible for industry and information technology, public security, ecology and environment, transport, agriculture, health, customs, market regulation, railways, and civil aviation. The catalogue will be based on established standards for the identification and classification of chemical hazards and will be updated when necessary.

Whistleblower Protections and Incentives

The second draft also enhances provisions for public reporting and accountability mechanisms. It affirms that any organization or individual has the right to report violations or hidden safety risks related to hazardous chemicals to the competent authorities. Local governments at county level or above are required to reward those who make significant contributions in reporting and to keep whistleblower information strictly confidential.

Road Transport Safety Requirements

New requirements for the transport of hazardous chemicals are also included in the draft:

• Vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals must not obscure or remove warning signs.

• Vehicles must be equipped with satellite positioning and monitoring systems that meet national and industry standards, and these devices must remain functional without tampering or signal shielding.

• Drivers must strictly comply with road traffic safety laws, with limits set on night driving: no more than two consecutive hours without a break, and each rest stop must last at least 20 minutes.

Strengthening Oversight and Accountability

The second draft underscores China’s commitment to strengthening oversight of hazardous chemicals, with an emphasis on preventing transport-related risks and reinforcing the accountability system.