China releases draft revised National List of Hazardous Waste to seek comments 
On Dec. 28, 2023, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment published a draft revised National List of Hazardous Waste, which has been developed for more effective environmental management of hazardous waste. The ministry is seeking comments on the draft through Feb. 4, 2024.
The draft list includes supplements to the definitions of some waste categories, including drugs, pharmaceuticals, dyes and paints, as well as changes to the scopes of waste of inks, dyes, paints, etc.
Main changes from the previous version
Category HW03
Current list — Waste drugs and pharmaceuticals
Draft list — Waste drugs and pharmaceuticals (Unless otherwise stated, chemical pharmaceuticals, biological products, pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients on the list do not include vitamins, mineral pharmaceuticals, conditioned water, electrolytes or pH balancing drugs included in the National List of Essential Medicines1.)
Category HW12
Current list — Waste of dyes and paints
Draft list — Waste of dyes and paints (Unless otherwise stated, this does not include titanium pigments.)
Waste 264-012-12
Current list — Wastewater treatment sludge generated in the production of other inks, dyes and paints (except for water-based paints)
Draft list — Wastewater treatment sludge and wastewater evaporation residues (liquids) generated in the production of other inks, dyes and paints (except for water-based paints)
Waste 900-252-12
Current list — Waste generated in the process of lacquer spraying or coating that uses paints (except for water-based paints) or organic solvents
Draft list — Paint sludge captured in the process of lacquer spraying or coating that uses paints (except for water-based paints) or organic solvents
Waste 772-003-18
Current list — bottom ash, fly ash and wastewater treatment sludge from incineration, pyrolysis and other treatment of hazardous waste
Draft list — bottom ash (except for bottom ash from the incineration of infectious medical waste in household waste incineration plants), fly ash and wastewater treatment sludge from incineration, pyrolysis and other treatment of toxic or infectious hazardous waste
The draft list (in Chinese) is available at
https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk06/202401/t20240103_1060504.html.
1 国家基本药物目录
