China Updates the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances with 486 New Entries
Reference source : Ministry of Environment
On 4 August 2026, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) released Announcement No. 40 of 2026. announcing the latest update to the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC). The update adds 486 chemical substances, comprising four substances meeting the inventory inclusion criteria and 482 previously registered new chemical substances. It was issued in accordance with the Measures for the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order No. 12) and its supporting regulatory documents, further expands the national inventory of existing chemicals.
The annex also identifies substances that remain subject to specified New Use Environmental Management requirements, with approved uses including pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediates, photoresist materials, battery applications, catalysts and other industrial applications.
What Does This Mean for Companies?
The latest IECSC update is significant for manufacturers, importers, and downstream users of chemical substances in China.
Key implications include:
- Companies should verify whether their substances have been added to the updated IECSC.
- Once a substance is listed in the IECSC, it is generally regarded as an existing chemical substance under China's new chemical substance regulatory framework.
- Future compliance obligations for these substances may differ from those applicable to new chemical substances, depending on their intended manufacture or import activities.
- Businesses planning to place chemicals on the Chinese market should continue monitoring IECSC updates to ensure regulatory compliance.
Official Documents Released
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has published two accompanying annexes:
- 4 Chemical Substances Added to the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (2026 Batch 1, 14th Overall Batch).
- 482 Registered New Chemical Substances Added to the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (2026 Batch 1, 16th Overall Batch).
Stakeholders are encouraged to review the official substance lists to determine whether their chemicals are included in this inventory update.