China has published two major updates to its national dangerous goods standards, GB 12268-2025 and GB 6944-2025, which will take effect on October 1, 2025. These standards replace the 2012 versions and align with the latest UN Model Regulations, affecting classification, packaging, transport, and storage of hazardous chemicals. Overseas chemical suppliers and logistics providers should prepare for stricter compliance requirements and smoother cross-border operations.
Key updates and scope
GB 12268-2025, the List of Dangerous Goods, specifies general provisions, special provisions, limited and excepted quantities, packaging requirements, and rules for portable tanks and bulk containers. It applies to transportation, storage, distribution, and related activities. GB 6944-2025, the Classification and Code of Dangerous Goods, defines hazard classes, categories, packaging groups, classification priorities, sample transport principles, and naming/coding rules. Both standards are managed by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) and the National Technical Committee on Dangerous Chemicals Management Standardization (TC 251).
Alignment with international regulations
The new standards fully adopt the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations (22nd revised edition) and the Manual of Tests and Criteria (7th revised edition). This harmonization ensures that China’s road, rail, and waterway transport rules align with global air and sea shipping standards, reducing cross-border logistics costs and improving compliance for international shipments.
Transition period and implementation
The full text of both standards will be publicly available within 20 working days after their March 28, 2025 release, offering a six-month transition period until October 1, 2025. During this time, producers, transporters, and storage operators must accelerate technical upgrades to meet the new requirements. Regulators are expected to refine supporting measures to enhance lifecycle risk control and public safety.
What buyers should watch
Importers and distributors of hazardous chemicals into China should review their product classifications and packaging against the updated lists. The alignment with UN Model Regulations may simplify compliance for companies already following international standards, but differences in specific provisions could require adjustments. Logistics providers should update their dangerous goods handling protocols and training programs before the October deadline to avoid shipment delays or penalties.
Source: Read the original report | Published: April 17, 2025