China launches new hazardous chemical registration system supporting generation of 2D barcode for chemicals

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management on Feb. 16 announced the launch of the Hazardous Chemical Registration Comprehensive Service System (https://whpdj.mem.gov.cn). Companies can start using this new system by logging in to it with their username and password for the former system and then changing the password. The latest system supports the generation of 2D barcodes for hazardous chemicals. Hazardous chemical management based on these codes is expected to be fully implemented in China in the coming years.

Here are the notable points of the new registration system.

Automatic generation of 2D barcodes

When you choose “Registered hazardous chemicals and SDS/label management” from the system’s menu (the original menu is in Chinese), the “Registered hazardous chemical management” menu will open that shows registered hazardous chemicals and their corresponding information. The system automatically generates 2D barcodes called “hazardous chemical safety information codes” for registered chemicals. When you click the “Download the 2D barcode” button for any of the chemicals shown in the menu, the automatically generated code for the chemical will be downloaded.

There are draft regulations stipulating the following rules for displaying the codes:

• For hazardous chemicals produced in China with inner or outer packaging, their safety information codes must be printed or applied on the inner or outer packaging begore the shipping.
• For imported chemicals with inner or outer packaging, their safety information codes must be printed or applied on the inner or outer packaging before they are imported and put into the market.

Notes on the 2D barcodes

When using the new system, the user needs to ensure that correct information is displayed when automatically generated 2D barcodes are scanned. This information includes the chemical name, CAS Registry Number, registration number, company name, label information (the signal word, hazard pictogram and hazard statements), first aid measures, emergency measures in case of leakage, extinction methods, SDS and label.

According to our own source, the Ministry of Emergency Management is expected to explain the system to relevant parties before regulations on the 2D barcodes for hazardous chemicals are fully implemented.

Other change in the new system

There are more entry fields in the new system that have to be filled out. For example, production and export companies are now required to provide their identification number (passport number) as well as the dangerous goods classes and storage locations of chemicals.