News Details

On 11 September 2026, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) published the approval draft and explanatory statement for the revision of GB 15258, Rules for Preparation of Chemical Safety Labels. The proposed revision draws on the 11th revised edition of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and would replace GB 15258-2009 once finalised. The MIIT invited comments from 12 to 18 September 2026. 

Background to the revision 

The revision project (20243079-Q-339) follows an earlier public consultation in 2025. The drafting group then subsequently updated the text to reflect GHS Rev. 11 and the comments received during the review process. The approval draft was submitted to the MIIT in June 2026. 

Key changes in the approval draft 

The revised GB 15258 proposes changes to several aspects of chemical safety label preparation, including: 

• Requirements for chemical identification and supplier information on labels. 

• The order of hazard pictograms and the selection and order of hazard and precautionary statements. 

• Simplified and folding safety labels, including provisions for small packages. 

• Safety labels for kits and combination packaging. 

• Removal of the previously proposed safety information code requirements following expert review in April 2026. 

Under the draft, simplified labels could be used for packages of up to 500 ml, with further simplifications for very small packages. 

Proposed transition period 

The explanatory statement recommends a transition period of 12 months between publication and implementation to give companies time to use existing stocks of printed labels. The final standard and its implementation date have not yet been announced. Until the revision takes effect, GB 15258-2009 remains the applicable standard.