Colombia’s move toward stronger chemical management began in 2017 with the update of its national chemical profile. Decree No. 1630/2021 builds on this earlier work by introducing a risk-based approach to chemical management, aligned with the UN GHS framework adopted through Decree No. 1496/2018. In Colombia, industrial-use chemicals are regulated under Decree No. 1630/2021, which establishes the framework for the Comprehensive Management of Industrial Chemicals. The decree was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and has been in force since 30 November 2021.

The decree mandates the creation of the National Inventory and Registry of Chemical Substances (INSQUI). Under this regulation, manufacturers and importers must register industrial chemicals, either as individual substances or in mixtures, when they are manufactured in or imported into Colombia in quantities above 100 kilograms per year and are classified as hazardous under the UN GHS criteria.

Exemptions

Certain substances are exempt from the registration requirements. These include substances already regulated under other legal frameworks, such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, as well as specific categories such as UVCBs, impurities, articles, natural substances, non-commercial substances, polymers, monomers, intermediates, substances resulting from environmental exposure, and chemicals in customs transit.

This approach allows Colombia to strengthen regulatory oversight of industrial chemicals while keeping the system practical for industry implementation.

Authorities

The main authorities responsible for regulating and enforcing Decree No. 1630/2021 are the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible – MADS) and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social). MADS oversees  the implementation of national environmental policy, including the classification, labeling, and risk  assessment of industrial chemicals. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection collaborates closely with MADS to establish risk assessment criteria aimed at protecting public health. 

Concerned Bodies

Decree No. 1630/2021 requires manufacturers and importers to notify the Colombian authorities of hazardous substances, as well as mixtures containing hazardous components, when the annual quantity exceeds 100 kilograms. The notification deadline for these substances was 31 May 2025. For companies handling quantities below this threshold, notification is voluntary.

Foreign manufacturers may also register their substances in Colombia, but the process must be carried out together with a Colombian importer. To safeguard confidential business information (CBI), particularly from local importers or customers, foreign manufacturers may appoint an Exclusive Representative Abroad (Representante Exclusivo del Exterior, REE).

The REE acts on behalf of the foreign manufacturer and submits the required confidential information directly to the Colombian authorities through an encrypted database. This allows sensitive data to be protected while still fulfilling the notification requirements under Colombian law.

Registration 

Decree 1630/2021 establishes clear obligations for producers and importers of industrial chemical substances. Any chemical that is imported or produced above 100 kg per year must be registered with the Authorities. Notification remains volutnary for substances handled below this threshold. 

The notification are submitted through the INSQUI web application. The platform is available in Spanish and accessible to registered reporting entities. The following data must be submitted via the online portal system:

• Identity of the manufacturer or importer of the chemical substance intended for industrial use.
• Annual manufacture or import volumes, whether as a pure substance or in a mixture.
• Chemical identity, including CAS number (where applicable).
• Hazard classification according to GHS 6.
• Identified uses of the substance.

The Authorities have published the first edition of the National Inventory of Industrial Chemical Substances (Inventario Nacional de Sustancias Químicas de Uso Industrial, INSQUI) on November 2025 including over 4500 substances. This inventory serves as the official registry of industrial-use chemical substances in Colombia. Any substance not registered, will be classified as "new substances" and will be subject to additional regulatory requirements