China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has released the second draft of its Law on the Safety of Hazardous Chemicals, signaling a major shift in how hazardous substances are managed.

General Provisions

Purpose: Protect life, property, and the environment; strengthen safety governance throughout production, storage, use, operation, and transport. Establishes national catalogue and unified data platform under MEM leadership.

Planning and Siting

Production and storage must align with national land-use and industrial-park planning. Chemical parks must meet national standards. EIA and safety evaluations are required before project approval.

Production and Storage Safety

Production units require a Production Safety Permit. Facilities must implement automation, monitoring, and dual-prevention systems. Major hazards are registered and monitored.

Read the full IHMM synopsis of the China 2nd draft here.