Taiwan - GHS Status

As of April 25, 2025, Taiwan has fully adopted the eighth updated version of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 8) published by the United Nations. The Chinese National Standards (CNS) 15030 series, which were updated under the direction of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and the Ministry of Labour (MoL), serve as the foundation for the updated classification and labelling framework.

GHS Classification

The finalised GHS 8-aligned standards were adopted in three phases: ten standards on physical hazards were issued on 24 October 2024; ten standards on health hazards (including a new standard for desensitized explosives) were released on 24 February 2025; and two standards on environmental hazards, together with the revised CNS 15030 General Rules, were adopted on 25 April 2025. These updates ensure that Taiwan’s GHS framework now reflects the full set of hazard classes introduced in GHS 8. Key technical updates include subdivision of flammable gases into Categories 1A and 1B; introduction of aerosol and chemicals under pressure category; and revised criteria for acute toxicity, skin corrosion/irritation, and serious eye damage/eye irritation to align with corresponding OECD test methods (CNS 15030-17 to -19). The CNS 15030 Standards are listed in Table below:

Local Adaptation of GHS

The implementation of GHS 8 in Taiwan includes all hazard classes. No building blocks from this edition have been omitted.

GHS Labelling Requirements

The EPA Notice's Article 3 governs container labelling. The classification and labelling components specified by the Chinese National Standard, or CNS 15030, must be followed. English may be used as a second language, but Chinese must be the primary language on the label. The labelling components listed below must be present:

• Pictograms: A square presented in the vertical direction consisting of a red outline on a white background at a 45° angle. A symbol must be in black.
• Name of the product
• Hazardous Ingredients: Whenever a toxic or concerned chemical substance exceeds the threshold limit, it must be labelled with the CAS number and its Chinese and English names.
• In addition, the weight percentage shall be indicated next to the words “toxic” or “concerned chemical substances”.
• Signal words
• Hazard statements
• Precautionary statements
• Name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer, vendor or supplier.

Where labelling is not possible for chemicals according to CNS 15030, only name, hazardous ingredients; telephone number, name and address of supplier, manufacturer, importer should be indicated on the label.

Containers with a capacity of less than 100 ml, as specified in Paragraph 1 should be labelled only with name, hazard pictograms and signal words.

The size of the label on containers and packaging shall comply with the following requirements (as given in Article 4 of the EPA Notice):

Safety Data Sheet

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) in Taiwan are required to be created in compliance with the guidelines and information provided in Schedule 4 of the MoL Notice. English may be used as a second language, however Chinese is the required language for SDS compilation. Every three years, the SDS must be updated, and for future reference, records of content changes, dates, and versions must be preserved for three years. The SDS should always have an emergency phone number that can be used to respond to inquiries regarding mishaps.

GHS in Transport

According to Article 43-IV of the Civil Aviation Act, Taiwan's Regulations Governing the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air were modified on December 10, 2018.