The Chinese Government pays great attention to chemicals safety. It has actively participated in international activities and implemented international treaties, including the Rotterdam Convention and Convention No. 170. It undertakes the obligations of relevant conventions. It has attended the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemicals Safety and participated in the formulation of the convention on the control of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the preparation of the National Profile for the management of chemicals.

Domestically, relevant State departments have formulated regulations and standards on chemicals safety, providing chemicals management with legal guarantees. In terms of organizational setup, the State Environmental Protection Administration, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, and State Drug Administration were set up. Some departments have set up special bodies, for instance, the SEPA set up a chemicals registration center, and the Ministry of Agriculture set up a pesticide testing institute. The establishment of these organizations institutionally guarantees the implementation of chemicals management. At present, a large number of scientists, specialists and technicians are engaged in the research and management of chemicals. In addition, there are coordinating organizations and commissions which play an active role in effectively carrying out the work relating to chemicals safety and management.

7.1 Inter-ministerial Coordination Group on Chemical Safety

In 1994, a Chinese Government delegation attended the IFCS held in Stockholm. After the meeting, China set up the Inter-ministerial Coordination Group on Chemical Safety in order to carry out the various tasks set out by the IFCS and effectively participate in IFCS activities. Members of the coordination group are from the SEPA, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Chemical Industry and Ministry of Labor. The SEPA heads the group, while the Ministry of Health is the deputy group head. The coordination group convenes various types of meetings irregularly, aiming to work out measures to ensure chemicals safety, and to formulate and implement common action plans.

7.2 Coordination Group for Preparing the National Profile

In order to prepare a national profile to assess the national infrastructure for the management of chemicals, an inter-departmental Coordination Group for Preparing the National Profile was set up under the leadership of the SEPA. The coordination group consists of representatives from the SEPA, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, State Economic and Trade Commission and State Administration of Petroleum and Chemical Industry. It has worked out a detailed plan, divided tasks among the related departments, and set up a National Profile writing team, which is composed of writers with rich experience from the SEPA Chemicals Registration Center, Environmental Health Monitoring Institute of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medical Science, Pesticides Testing Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture, Information Service Center of the Chemical Industry Daily and the Institute of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Diseases of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medical Science.

7.3 Internal Coordinating Mechanisms for Implementing the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade

In order to implement the Regulations on the Management of Pesticides and the Regulations on Environmental Management of First Import of Chemicals and the Import and Export of Toxic Chemicals, and to fully meet the obligation of protecting the ecological environment and people’s health provided in the Rotterdam Convention, China exercises registration control of imported chemicals and the import and export of toxic chemicals and pesticides. The SEPA is responsible for the registration of first import of chemicals and the import and export of toxic chemicals. The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the registration of pesticide imports and exports. The customs handle import and export formalities based on the “toxic chemicals environment management pass note” issued by the SEPA and the “pesticide import and export registration certificate” issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. No toxic chemicals may be imported or exported without a “toxic chemicals environment management pass note” and no pesticides may be imported or exported without a “pesticide import and export registration certificate.”

7.4 The State Toxic Chemicals Review Board

In order to protect human health and the ecological environment, strengthen the environmental management of first import of chemicals and the import and export of toxic chemicals, and implement the London Guidelines for the Exchange of Information on Chemicals in International Trade, the SEPA, MFTEC and General Administration of Customs jointly issued the Regulations on the Environmental Management of First Import of Chemicals and the Import and Export of Toxic Chemicals. A toxic chemicals review board was established to enforce the Regulations. The board was headed by SEPA. Its members are from ministries, commissions and other institutions, including the SEPA, State Planning Commission, State Economic and Trade Commission, General Administration of Customs, MFTEC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, State Administration of Petroleum and Chemical Industry, State Administration of Import and Export Inspection. The board is responsible for making overall reviews of the chemicals for which import or export is applied, and advising the SEPA on technical matters concerning the implementation of these Regulations.

7.5 The National Pesticides Register Review Board

In order to strengthen supervision and control of the production, distribution and use of pesticides, guarantee the quality of pesticides, protect the agricultural, forestry and ecological environment, and safeguard the safety and health of human beings and livestock, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Chemical Industry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Commerce and the Leading Group for Environmental Protection under the State Council jointly issued the Rules on Pesticides Registration in 1982. In 1997, the State Council issued the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Management of Pesticides. The National Pesticides Register Review Board was established to execute the Rules. The board is composed of specialists in pesticide management and pesticide technology specialists nominated by the departments of agriculture, forestry, chemical industry, health, environmental protection and grain administration, as well as the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives. An application for official register of a pesticide, after examination and appraisal by the departments of agriculture, chemical industry, health and environmental protection and the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, shall be submitted to the National Pesticides Register Review Board for assessment on its chemical properties, toxicology, pesticide effect, residue and environmental effect. If the pesticide is considered to be up to standard, it will be granted a registration certificate by the agricultural administration under the State Council.

7.6 Other Committees

In China, in addition to the aforesaid administrative bodies and coordinating mechanisms in charge of chemical import registration and registration of the import and export of toxic chemicals and pesticides, there are special bodies for the administration of pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicines, cosmetics and food additives. Corresponding committees have also been established to manage special chemicals.

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