China releases drafts of new, revised mandatory national standards for GHS implementation 
On June 16, 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China released the following two draft standards to implement the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals):
- A revised mandatory national standard, “Rules for classification and labelling of chemicals — Part 1: General specifications” (GB 30000.1)
- A new mandatory national standard, “Rules for classification and labelling of chemicals — Part X: Desensitized explosives” (GB 30000.30)
The ministry is seeking comments on both drafts through Aug. 16, 2023. Here is an overview of the draft standards.
Rules for classification and labelling of chemicals — Part 1: General specifications (draft revision)
This is a draft revision of the 2009 version of the standard, and is based on the eighth edition of the GHS Purple Book. The 2009 version is based on the second edition of the Purple Book. The revised standard sets out rules for the classification and labeling of chemicals based on the GHS.
The draft includes changes to the chemical classification. For instance, “desensitized explosives” is added to the physicochemical hazards. Some sections of the standard on labeling, SDSs, etc. would be partially removed from the previous version. Due to this, the preparation of labels and SDSs would require reference to GB 15258 and other relevant national standards.
A publication date of the final version has not been set, but it is expected to take effect six months after the publication.
Other related national standards, namely GB 30000.2–29, are based on the fourth edition of the GHS Purple book, and are also likely to be updated later against a newer version of the Purple Book.
Rules for classification and labelling of chemicals — Part X: Desensitized explosives (draft)
This draft new standard is based on the ninth edition of the GHS Purple Book. The draft standard sets out criteria and decision logics for desensitized explosive classification. For example, if the exothermic decomposition energy of an explosive that has received desensitization treatment is 300 J/g or higher, it would be classified as a desensitized explosive.
A publication date of the final version has not been set, but it is expected to take effect 12 months after the publication.
The draft standards (in Chinese) are available at
https://www.miit.gov.cn/gzcy/yjzj/art/2023/art_66aaf16927084829955957f221c85389.html.
