The Technical Committee on Chemical Physical Hazard Identification and Classification officially released the "Catalogue of Chemicals Exempted from Physical Hazard Identification and Classification (First Batch)" on December 27, 2016. This catalogue serves as an important supporting document for the implementation of the "Measures for the Administration of Chemical Physical Hazard Identification and Classification." The first batch includes a total of 100 chemicals, of which 50 are substances explicitly determined to have no physical hazards, and 50 are chemicals known to possess physical hazards. Chemicals listed in this catalogue may be exempted from physical hazard identification and classification.

It is noteworthy that exemption from identification and classification does not mean exemption from all compliance obligations. For chemicals in the catalogue known to have physical hazards, enterprises are still required to complete hazardous chemical registration in accordance with the law and prepare Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and safety labels as required. For chemicals without physical hazards, if assessment reveals that they possess health or environmental hazards, they are likewise required to fulfill hazardous chemical registration obligations. The release of this catalogue clarifies the scope of exemptions for enterprises, avoids redundant identification, and promotes the standardization of chemical classification management.

China Inventory of Chemicals Exempted from Physical Hazard Identification and Classification is available

On September 8, 2025 (the 114th year of the Republic of China), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Ministry of Labor in the Taiwan Region of China issued an announcement stating that, in accordance with the 'Operational Guidelines for the Submission and Supplemental Submission of Existing Chemical Substances under the Pre-reorganization Council of Labor Affairs, Ministry of Labor' and the 'Regulations on the Registration of New and Existing Chemical Substances by the Ministry of Environment,' the data protection period for existing chemical substances classified as data-protected substances (identified by serial numbers beginning with P and C) expired on September 7, 2025 (the 114th year of the Republic of China). Effective September 8, information on these substances has been officially disclosed to the public, with a total of 628 substances being released.

TCSI is the core inventory for chemical substance management in the Taiwan Region of China, encompassing approximately 10w substances. The disclosure of these 628 substances provides critical compliance references for industries, enabling enterprises to access reviewed registration data to optimize their own declaration processes. With the continued implementation of the periodic review mechanism for data confidentiality, it is anticipated that more substances whose protection periods have expired will gradually be disclosed in the future. This will further advance the region's chemical management system toward a risk-based approach aligned with international standards.

628 substances were added to the Taiwan Chemical Substance Inventory (TCSI)

The Existing and New Chemical Substances Inventory (ENCS) of Japan has been updated to the latest version, incorporating updates from the official announcements made on February 17, 2026.

Substances were added to the Japan Existing and New Chemical Substances Inventory (ENCS)-(as of Feb 17,2026)

Recently, Japan issued an updated announcement, classifying the following 1 substance as Priority Assessment Chemicals.

The details of the new substances are as follows:
Dimethyl sulfate quaternized reaction product of fatty acids(C=10-20 and C=16-18 unsaturated) and 2,2',2''-nitrilotriethanol（CAS: 91995-81-2)

Updated Japan CSCL-Priority Assessment Chemicals as of February 17, 2026

Recently, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan has released an update notice that includes 4 substances to the list of newly announced chemical substances prior to March 31, 2011, with the number of substance groups remaining unchanged (7,413).

4 substances were added to the Japan CSCL Newly Announced Chemical Substances (notified by March 31,2011)

On December 11, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially promulgated the revised Law on Investment (Law No. 143/2025/QH15), which officially entered into force on March 1, 2026. The Law details the List of Narcotic Substances Prohibited from Investment and Business (Annex I) and the List of Chemicals and Minerals Prohibited from Investment and Business (Annex II) in its appendices, further strengthening Vietnam's legal control framework over narcotics and hazardous chemicals.

List of Chemicals and Minerals Prohibited from Investment and Business (Law No. 143/2025/QH15 Annex II): 
Annex II stipulates the catalogue of chemicals prohibited from investment and business due to public security, environmental protection, or obligations under international conventions. This includes certain highly toxic pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, and sensitive chemical precursors that may be used for manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. This List establishes clear legal red lines for all chemical and related industries within the territory of Vietnam.

Update to Vietnam List of Prohibited Chemicals (Law No. 143/2025/QH15 Annex 2)

On December 11, 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam officially promulgated the revised Law on Investment (Law No. 143/2025/QH15), which officially entered into force on March 1, 2026. The Law details the List of Narcotic Substances Prohibited from Investment and Business (Annex I) and the List of Chemicals and Minerals Prohibited from Investment and Business (Annex II) in its appendices, further strengthening Vietnam's legal control framework over narcotics and hazardous chemicals.

List of Narcotic Substances Prohibited from Investment and Business (Law No. 143/2025/QH15 Annex I): 
Annex I explicitly enumerates various categories of narcotic substances and their precursors that are absolutely prohibited from circulation and trading in the market. This measure aims to strengthen social order, cut off the sources of narcotics, and any activities involving substances listed therein will face severe legal sanctions.

Update to Vietnam List of Narcotic Drugs Prohibited from Investment Business (Law No. 143/2025/QH15 Annex 1)

On December 30, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued Announcement No. 89 of 2025, publishing the China Inventory of Goods Subject to Export License Administration (2026).

This Inventory is formulated in accordance with the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations on the Administration of Import and Export of Goods, the Regulations on the Administration of Ozone-Depleting Substances, the Measures for the Administration of Export Licenses for Goods, the Measures for the Administration of Import and Export of Ozone-Depleting Substances, and other relevant laws, administrative regulations, and rules. It shall come into effect on January 1, 2026.

The Inventory lists 43 categories of goods subject to export license administration in 2026. Enterprises exporting goods listed in this Inventory shall apply to MOFCOM or local commerce authorities entrusted by MOFCOM for the Export License of the People's Republic of China, and complete customs clearance and release formalities with the export license.

China Inventory of Goods Subject to Export License Administration (2026) is available

On December 30, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued Announcement No. 88 of 2025, publishing the China Inventory of Goods Subject to Import License Administration (2026).

This Inventory is formulated in accordance with the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations on the Administration of Import and Export of Goods, the Regulations on the Administration of Ozone-Depleting Substances, the Measures for the Administration of Import Licenses for Goods, the Measures for the Administration of Import and Export of Ozone-Depleting Substances, and other relevant laws, administrative regulations, and rules. It shall come into effect on January 1, 2026.

The Inventory lists 14 categories of goods subject to import license administration in 2026, mainly including ozone-depleting substances and key used mechanical and electrical products, covering key areas such as environmental protection and industrial security. Importing enterprises shall apply to MOFCOM or local commerce authorities entrusted by MOFCOM for the Import License of the People's Republic of China in accordance with the requirements of the Inventory, and complete customs clearance and release formalities with the import license.

China Inventory of Goods Subject to Import License Administration (2026) is available

The European Union's Endocrine Disruptor Assessment List is a registry maintained by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which includes substances that are undergoing assessment for endocrine-disrupting properties. The latest update to this list was on 18 February 2026, and it contains 137 unique substances/entries.

The list comprises substances that have been submitted to the ECHA Endocrine Disruptor Expert Group for discussion. These substances are undergoing an informal hazard assessment to determine whether they possess endocrine-disrupting characteristics. The outcome of the assessment may indicate that a substance does not have endocrine-disrupting properties; however, if the assessment concludes that a substance does have such properties, formal risk management and decision-making processes must be followed to confirm these characteristics before any regulatory actions can be taken based on these properties.

Main updates:
1. 1 substance name revised;
2. Assessment status/outcome revised for 4 substances;
3. Assessment status/outcome revised for 4 substances.

Since February 2013, any substance deemed to have or potentially have endocrine-disrupting properties has been included in this list.

Update History