Important Regulatory Update: China's Compulsory Standard GB 15603-2022 for Warehouse Storage of Hazardous Chemicals Effective July 1, 2023 – Potential Impact on Your Supply Chain

1. Key Update on the New Regulation

The State Administration for Market Regulation of China approved and released the new compulsory national standard GB 15603-2022 "General Rules for the Storage of Hazardous Chemicals in Warehouses" on December 29, 2022. This standard will become mandatory and take full effect on July 1, 2023, completely replacing the old standard GB 15603-1995.

• Governing Authority: The Ministry of Emergency Management of China. This underscores the standard's primary focus on workplace safety and emergency response, indicating stringent enforcement.
• Primary Scope: The standard regulates the domestic warehousing of hazardous chemicals within China, covering requirements for warehouse design, zoning, storage, safety management, and more.

2. Potential Implications for International Logistics & Your Supply Chain

While the standard directly governs domestic storage, its implementation has ripple effects on the export logistics chain. Key considerations for your supply chain include:

Warehousing Compliance Cost & Time:

To comply, Chinese chemical warehouses (particularly those handling export consolidation) may need facility upgrades, process changes, and certifications. This could lead to:

• Tighter Capacity for Compliant Warehouses: Availability at certified warehouses meeting the new rules may become constrained.
• Stricter Receiving Inspections: Warehouses will enforce more rigorous checks on packaging, labeling, and documentation (e.g., SDS/MSDS), potentially adding slight delays to the cargo receiving process.

Increased Need for Proactive Documentation:

To ensure smooth warehouse intake and export customs declaration, having accurate, complete Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and proper classification reports aligned with China's "Hazardous Chemicals Directory" (2015 edition) will be more critical than ever. Incomplete or incorrect documentation will directly cause warehousing and booking delays.

Need for Greater Buffer in Logistics Planning:

Given the above, the lead time from production completion to vessel/aircraft loading may face increased variability. We strongly advise building more flexibility into your shipment schedules for orders delivered in Q2 2023 and beyond. Proactively confirming warehousing and transport arrangements with your supplier and us is essential.

3. Our Recommendations & Support

To ensure the stability and efficiency of your supply chain, we recommend:

• Early Communication: Proactively engage with your Chinese suppliers to confirm if their shipping warehouses are preparing for compliance with the new standard.
• Ensure Documentation Compliance: Obtain up-to-date, accurate, GHS-compliant SDS and necessary hazard classification reports from your suppliers.
• Collaborative Planning: When instructing us for shipment bookings, provide detailed cargo information and documents as early as possible. This allows us to plan accordingly, selecting compliant warehouses and safe transport solutions.