China releases national standard for warning labels of chemical workplaces, which will come into effect June 1, 2024 
On Nov. 27, 2023, China’s Standardization Administration published a recommended national standard, “Specification for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Part 31: Precautionary Label for Workplace of Chemicals” (GB/T 30000.31-2023), which will take effect June 1, 2024. This is based on the ninth revised edition of the GHS, and is the 31st installment of the series of China’s chemical classification and labeling standards (GB 30000 standards).
Scope of the standard
The standard sets out what is required for and how to prepare and use warning labels for “workplaces of chemicals”, including label information and dimensions.
Word definition
A “workplace of chemicals” refers to any place where operations in which workers may touch chemicals take place. These operations include the production, transportation and storage of chemicals; disposal and treatment of non-hazardous waste materials; discharge of chemicals generated from the operations; and maintenance, repair and cleaning of equipment and containers for chemicals.
Information on a label
A label should contain the product ID, pictograms, signal words, hazard information, physicochemical hazard information, precautionary statements, pictograms for precautionary statements, SDS references, emergency phone number, etc.
Label dimensions
Under a normal situation, a horizontal warning label for a workplace of chemicals should be 80 cm x 60 cm or larger, and a vertical one 60 cm x 90 cm or larger.
Sample label
Appendix A of the standard provides a sample warning label (a label for toluene [CAS Number: 108-88-3]), which is shown below.
The national standard (in Chinese) is available at
https://openstd.samr.gov.cn/bzgk/gb/newGbInfo?hcno=458D223C9CF07A34FF845F0815BFC95D
