CHINA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Rongliang Wu, Mei Wan, Qirong Huang and Xueqi Huang, Jin Mao Law Firm
als, and the directly responsible person-in-charge and other directly responsible persons. Hazardous chemical safety law on the horizon Owing to the major accidents that have happened in the past ten years in the field of hazardous chemi- cals (including their production, storage, transport and disposal), the NPC initiated the development of the Hazardous Chemical Safety Law to replace the current Hazardous Chemical Safety Management Regulations. The second review was completed by the Standing Committee of the NPC and the second draft version was released for public consultation from 12 September 2025 to 11 October 2025. The draft centres on supervision for the whole life cycle and enhances systematic risk prevention and control. In terms of enterprise responsibilities, the draft requires the implementation of a full-staff work safety responsibility system and a dual prevention mechanism, while refining regulations for links such as the production, storage, use and transportation of hazardous chemicals. The draft Hazardous Chemical Safety Law adds new provisions on the overall safety risk assess- ment of chemical industrial parks, as well as an exit mechanism. At the same time, the draft law brings non-industrial entities such as schools and scientific research institutions into the scope of supervision and strengthens whole-process hazardous chemical safety management.
Occupational health monitoring Occupational diseases refer to diseases incurred by workers of employers (such as enterprises, public institutions, and individual economic organisations) during their occupational activities due to exposure to dust, radioactive substances, and other toxic or harmful factors. Employers are obligated to arrange occupational health examinations for employees at the time of employment, during employment, and upon resignation. They must truthfully inform employ- ees of the examination results and keep records of these results. If suspected occupational diseases are detected, employers must promptly arrange for diagnosis and must not arbitrarily dismiss the affect- ed employees. Additionally, employers must regularly inspect and assess health risks in the workplace. At present, the 2018 fourth revised version of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases is still in effect. In 2025, supporting poli- cies further clarified that enterprises must formulate customised examination plans based on the health risks of specific positions, rather than using general physical examinations as a substitute. Departments such as the National Health Commission, the Human Resources Bureau and the Social Security Bureau − as well as trade unions − will also share information and conduct joint supervision. The new version of the Classification and Catalogue of Occupational Diseases, implemented on 1 August 2025, has increased the types of occupational dis- eases to 12 categories and 135 kinds − adding “mus- culoskeletal problems caused by work” and “mental and behavioural disorders induced by work”, among others. Local governments are also strengthening the allocation of relevant medical resources and the train- ing of medical professionals.
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