New Chemical Regulation of China: Measures on Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12)

On April 29, 2020, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) published the Measures on Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order 12). The amendment will come into force on January 1, 2021 and replace the current MEP Order 7. The updated text focuses on the management of persistent (P), bioaccumulative (B), and toxic (T) substances, including defining scenarios in which substances meeting the PBT criteria will not be approved. MEE Order 12 introduces Simplified Registration as well as post-registration management. 

Depending on annual tonnage, new chemical substances will be subject to three types of registrations: Regular Registration, Simplified Registration, and Filing. 

New substances with annual volumes between 1 and 10 tons will be subject to the Simplified Registrations under MEE Order 12. Registrants should provide following information: (1) the application form; (2) physicochemical properties, and ecotoxicological study reports or materials regarding persistency, bioaccumulation, and aquatic environmental toxicity; and (3) a commitment letter on implementation or transmission of environmental risk control measures.

For New Substances of more than 10 tons, registrants should submit Regular Registration, including following information: (1) the application form; (2) physicochemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological test reports or materials; (3) an environmental risk assessment report; and (4) a commitment letter on implementation or transmission of environmental risk control measures.

The first-activity report is required for both Simplified Registrations and Regular Registrations and should be submitted within 60 days since the first manufacture or the first transfer to customers after import.

CBI Protection: CBI protection for substances currently in the IECSC will be abolished by 31 December 2025. The maximum time applicable for CBI protection of new substances added to the inventory of existing chemicals in China (IECSC) will be 5 years.

For further details, please click on the link to the official announcement 

www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk06/202006/t20200603_782493.html

For further information, kindly contact us on compliance@gpcregulatory.com