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System Framework:
China Chemical Substances & Product Safety Domain

China Measures for Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances (MEE Order No. 12)

ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE

Effective January 1, 2021

Enforcement: Effective January 1, 2021
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Overview

A registration system aimed at managing the environmental risk of new chemical substances in China. Companies introducing new chemical substances to the Chinese market are required to register before manufacturing or import, undergo environmental risk assessment, and manage the substance's intended use. Strengthened chemical management requires companies to manage chemical substance information across their entire supply chain. Registrations are classified into "simplified registration," "regular registration," and "filing," with new substances not listed on the IECSC (Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China) subject to strict notification and registration requirements.

Enforcement Timeline

- January 2021: Full transition from the former "Order No. 7" to "Order No. 12" (MEE Order No. 12) and formal implementation.

- April 30 each year: Deadline for the annual activity report on production and import of existing chemical substances from the previous year.

- 2024: Strengthened post-registration audits of environmental risk control measures (hazard information disclosure).

- 2025-2026: Expanded tracking and monitoring through integration of the hazardous chemicals inventory with the Order No. 12 registration database.

Related Regulations / Topics

China List of Priority Controlled Chemicals

China's "List of Priority Controlled Chemicals" is a framework under which the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) identifies and manages chemical substances posing high risks to the environment and human health, based on the "Regulations on the Environmental Risk Management of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals." The regulation imposes strict declaration requirements, emission controls, and restrictions at each stage of manufacturing, processing, use, and import. In recent years, alongside revisions to the technical guidelines for chemical substance environmental risk assessment, the addition of covered substances and the tightening of management standards have accelerated, requiring companies across the entire supply chain to determine applicability and report to authorities in a timely manner.

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Business Impact

Covered companies: Chemical manufacturers; semiconductor and electronic materials manufacturers; automotive parts manufacturers; paint and adhesive manufacturers; companies exporting chemicals to China; companies with manufacturing or R&D facilities in China.

Impact on companies: Registration and information management when introducing chemicals into China -- pre-confirmation of eligibility for new chemical substance registration (simplified registration, regular registration, or filing), substance information management and collection of composition data from suppliers, strict management of use and quantity, verification of regulated substance status (IECSC listing), and selection of a local agent (Only Representative).

Supply chain impact: Companies supplying chemicals and materials to China need to address transparency of raw material information, global chemical data management, and alignment with regulations such as EU REACH and Japan's Chemical Substances Control Law. A pre-market verification process before entering the Chinese market is especially essential for electronic materials, semiconductor materials, and specialty chemicals.

Official Sources & Reference Links