Hazardous chemicals are toxic, corrosive, explosive, flammable or oxidizing chemicals that endanger people, facilities or the environment. China determines them under the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals (2015 edition), with 5 new chemicals added in April 2026. They are classified by GHS into physical, health and environmental hazards.
Determining whether a chemical is "hazardous" is the compliance starting point for production, trading and import/export. Unlike "dangerous goods" (transport-focused), hazardous chemicals focus on the intrinsic hazards of the substance itself. This article covers the legal definition, GHS classification and catalogue determination rules.
1. Legal Definition
Under the Regulations on the Safety Administration of Hazardous Chemicals and the Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law (effective 1 May 2026), hazardous chemicals are highly toxic and other chemicals that are toxic, corrosive, explosive, flammable or oxidizing and endanger people, facilities or the environment.
Determination is based on the Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals (2015 edition), jointly issued and dynamically adjusted by the Ministry of Emergency Management and other departments.
2. GHS Classification
Under GHS (Globally Harmonized System) and Chinese standards, hazardous chemicals fall into three groups:
(1) Physical hazards
- Explosives, flammable gases, aerosols, oxidizing gases, gases under pressure
- Flammable liquids, flammable solids, self-reactive substances and mixtures
- Pyrophoric liquids/solids, water-reactive substances
- Oxidizing liquids/solids, organic peroxides, corrosive to metals
(2) Health hazards
- Acute toxicity (oral, dermal, inhalation)
- Skin corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/irritation
- Respiratory or skin sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity
- Carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity, aspiration hazard
(3) Environmental hazards
- Hazardous to the aquatic environment (acute, chronic)
- Hazardous to the ozone layer
3. Catalogue Determination Rules (practical core)
| Scenario | Determination |
|---|---|
| Chemicals explicitly listed in the catalogue | All are hazardous chemicals |
| Mixtures whose main components are listed hazardous chemicals with total ratio of 70% or more | Managed as hazardous chemicals (unless not meeting the determination principle) |
| Mixtures below 70%, or chemicals with undetermined hazards | Must be classified under the Measures for Physical Hazard Identification and Classification |
| Liquids with closed-cup flash point of 60 C or lower | Fall under item 2828 |
4. Transport Requirements
During transport, hazardous chemicals must also meet GB 12268-2025, i.e. packaging, marking, declaration and transport as dangerous goods. For import/export, the following are usually required:
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS/SDS)
- DG identification report (sea) or dangerous goods declaration (air)
- Packaging certificate
- Special permits depending on the class
Need help with chemical classification & registration?
Ginga Logistics is experienced in catalogue determination, GHS classification, hazardous chemical registration and import/export clearance. We provide compliance assessment and declaration agency services.
Hunk Hu Mobile: +86-15692136029 Email: oversea22@gingalogistics.com
Xyla Mobile: +86-18321527277 Email: oversea33@gingalogistics.com