On July 24, 2024, the GB 30000.1-2024 "Specifications for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Part 1: General Rules" was officially released. The full text of the general rules was published recently. GB 30000.1-2024 replaces GB 13690-2009 "General Rules for Classification and Hazard Communication of Chemicals," marking the second revision of the regulations since their first issuance in 1992. The main technical changes are as follows:
1. Updated terms and definitions to "Definitions and abbreviations as specified in GHS"
The terms and definitions defined in the United Nations "Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals" (Eighth Revised Edition) apply to this document, see Appendix A "Definitions and abbreviations as specified in GHS". The content of Chapter 3 from GB 13690-2009 has been transferred to Appendix A of this regulation, including 75 terms and definitions.
2. Addition of a category for desensitized explosives
The physical hazards have been updated from the original 16 categories to now include a 17th category—desensitized explosives. Regarding the rules for desensitized explosives, on June 16, 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the GB 30000.X-202X "Specifications for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Part X: Desensitized Explosives" (draft for comments), which has not yet been officially released. However, the standard number for desensitized explosives has already been listed in the introduction of this regulation as Part 30. The aim is to establish the terminology and definitions, classification standards, determination logic, and guidance and labelling requirements for desensitized explosives.
3. Deleted the precautionary statement examples from Appendix A of GB 13690-2009
4. Deleted the pictograms for protective measures from Appendix B of GB 13690-2009
5. Deleted the GHS label examples from Appendix C of GB 13690-2009
6. Deleted the minimum information for safety data sheets from Appendix D of GB 13690-2009
The minimum information for safety data sheets, which included the basic requirements for the 16 sections of the SDS, has been entirely removed. This does not mean that there are no requirements for the various parts of the SDS, but rather that there are already corresponding regulations governing the SDS, which should refer to the SDS production standards GB/T 16483-2008 "Safety data sheet for chemical products—Content and order of sections" and GB/T 17519-2013 "Guidance on the compilation of safety data sheet for chemical products".
This document is technically consistent with the United Nations "Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals" (GHS) (Eighth Revised Edition). Although this document states that it is technically consistent with the eighth revised edition of the United Nations GHS, it mainly targets some terms and definitions. In addition, the newly added category of desensitized explosives can also temporarily refer to the content of the eighth revised edition of the United Nations GHS. The other parts of the chemical classification and labelling specifications, GB 30000.2-29, still follow the current rules, which are based on the framework of the fourth revised edition of the United Nations GHS. It is expected that all GB series will be updated in the near future to align with the updated versions of the regulations.
The full text of GB 30000.1-2024 "Specification for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Part 1: General Rules" can be downloaded for free from via https://www.chemradar.com/rsdb/detail/dt9p6t8gdfk0
