China Plans to Expand the Application of Hazchem QR Codes

Following the “One enterprise, one chemical product, and one QR code” principle, China’s new Hazardous Chemical Registration Comprehensive Service System was launched on February 16, 2022. It supports registry of hazardous chemicals with the automatic generation of QR codes – the Hazardous Chemical Safety Information Codes.

The original chemical management plan turned out to be overly ambitious after its launching, seeing the difficulties in production and supply chain paralysis which resulted from COVID-19 as well as the insufficient supports given from the legislation. The Guangdong pilot project that started on October 1, 2021, has delivered promising results. It mandated Hazchem Codes on labels, packaging, containers, and vehicles before hazardous chemicals leave the factory or warehouse in Guangdong, and the concerned authorities is planning to expand this project to involve more cities at an even larger scale.

For the time being, information supplementation in the new system gains more focus. There are more entries on information about the enterprise and chemicals that have to be filled out in the new system. For example, the identification number (passport number) of the legal person of the enterprise, hazard identification, classification report, dangerous goods classes, storage methods, and storage locations of chemicals, etc.

The local registration offices of different provinces are urging enterprises registered in the old system to supplement such information, where the deadlines are set respectively. The QR code cannot be generated until the registration information is complete, which makes information supplementation in the new system a necessary step for a smooth roll-out of this QR code policy. Currently, no penalty is imposed for failing to supplement the information in time; however, it is highly recommended for the enterprises to respond to the suggestion from their local registration offices.

Despite the high engagement with the national-level promotion of legislation, more time is still needed to finalize the supporting documents. For instance, GB 15258-2009 General Rules for Preparation of Precautionary Label for Chemicals is planned to be revised to incorporate QR code requirements in 2022. As for the draft of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safety of Hazardous Chemicals, it aims at establishing a hazardous chemicals information management system and implementing electronic identification as well as the whole life cycle information management of hazardous chemicals. All to be ready for the first reading at the 2022 Legislative Work Plan of the NPC Standing Committee.