China Lists Hazardous Chemicals

China has now posted its first list of "hazardous chemicals for priority management" as party of their efforts to update their chemical health and safety management program.  This first list contains 60 chemicals and was released by SAWS, China's State Administration of Work Safety, in late June 2011.

The list can be viewed here in Chinese only.

Chemicals listed for priority management include common substances like benzene, methanol, chlorine, and ammonium hydroxide, as well as methyl hydrazine, acrylic acid, hexachloropentadiene, and methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE).  There are also some substances and mixtures that are listed based on their classification as flammable gases or liquids, pyrophoric liquids or solids, or substances that emit flammable gases when in contact with water.

For chemicals on the list, SAWS will engage in prioritized inspections of facilities that manufacture, store or use the chemicals.  Companies will also be required to prepare emergency response plans to deal with spills and accidents involving chemicals on the list.

Additional lists are expected in the future.