November 18, 2025

China’s regulatory ecosystem for daily chemical products is highly structured, designed to ensure consumer safety, product quality, and environmental protection. With increasing global demand for compliance transparency, manufacturers, exporters, and importers targeting the Chinese market must align their chemical labeling, packaging, and documentation with current standards under GB/T 5296.1-2012, GB 30000.1 (China GHS), and related national regulations.

Non-compliance with China’s labeling laws can lead to product recalls, import rejections, or regulatory penalties. Partnering with a qualified compliance partner like Maven Regulatory Solutions ensures accurate labeling, safety data sheet (SDS) alignment, and smooth product entry into the Chinese market.

What Are “Daily Chemical Products”?

Daily chemical products include a vast range of consumer-use chemical items such as:

  • Personal care products (shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, deodorants)
  • Household cleaning agents (detergents, disinfectants, surface cleaners)
  • Air fresheners, fabric softeners, and other chemical-based consumer goods

Since many of these come into direct contact with human skin, or are inhaled or ingested indirectly, they require stringent evaluation and clear, compliant labeling to ensure safe usage and market approval.

Mandatory Labeling Requirements in China

As per GB/T 5296.1-2012 and associated GHS (Globally Harmonized System) standards, every daily chemical product label in China must include the following:

  1. Product Identification:
    1. Product name, brand, model, and quality grade.
  2. Manufacturer/Importer Information:
    1. Company name, address, and contact details (local agent required for imports).
  3. Country of Origin:
    1. Mandatory for all imported daily chemical products.
  4. Production License or Notification Number:
    1. Must align with Chinese chemical registration or product filing requirements.
  5. Net Content:
    1. Specified in metric units (grams, milliliters, kilograms, liters, etc.).
  6. Production & Expiry Dates:
    1. Either a shelf-life statement or batch/lot identification code.
  7. Ingredients & Active Substances:
    1. Complete ingredient disclosure in descending order by weight or concentration.
  8. Instructions for Use:
    1. Clear and complete directions in Simplified Chinese.
  9. Storage & Safety Information:
    1. Details on safe storage, use precautions, and disposal methods.
  10. Certification & Markings:
    1. Indication of applicable standards or eco-certifications (if any).

 Instructions for Use and Warnings

A key part of China’s labeling compliance is the instruction and warning section. Labels must:

  • Describe correct and safe use, storage, and disposal methods.
  • Include household chemical warnings such as “Keep out of reach of children.”
  • Indicate environmental responsibility, e.g., “Do not pour into drains.”
  • Avoid any false claims, misleading icons, or unsupported efficacy statements.
  • Use Chinese language and legible font size to ensure consumer readability.

This approach reflects China’s emphasis on consumer awareness, environmental protection, and chemical safety.

Common Compliance Challenges

Manufacturers often face challenges in areas such as:

  • Translation accuracy of SDS and labels into Simplified Chinese
  • Inconsistent ingredient naming conventions (INCI vs. CAS)
  • Overlapping regulatory responsibilities between SAMR, MEE, and NMPA
  • Unclear product classification between cosmetic, detergent, or disinfectant categories

Working with Maven Regulatory Solutions ensures clarity, compliance precision, and error-free documentation, minimizing delays during pre-market approval or customs inspection.

Regulatory Authorities Involved

The primary agencies overseeing chemical product labeling and registration in China include:

  • State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) – consumer product safety and labeling oversight
  • Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) – chemical registration and environmental impact evaluation
  • National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) – cosmetics and disinfectants regulation
  • General Administration of Customs (GAC) – import/export compliance enforcement

Best Practices for Compliance

To ensure full regulatory alignment and product success in China:

  1. Validate all label content under GB 30000.1 (China GHS) and GB/T 5296 standards.
  2. Maintain bilingual documentation for SDS, labels, and technical files.
  3. Confirm substance listing on China’s Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC).
  4. Engage a local agent or representative for submission and communication with Chinese authorities.
  5. Conduct periodic compliance audits as labeling regulations evolve.

Why Partner with Maven Regulatory Solutions?

Maven Regulatory Solutions provides end-to-end regulatory consulting for chemical manufacturers and importers entering China’s market.
 Our expertise includes:

  • Chemical registration and GHS classification
  • Label translation and SDS authoring
  • Product filing and market notification
  • Post-market surveillance and updates

Our specialists combine technical depth with regulatory foresight to help brands navigate China’s compliance matrix confidently and efficiently.

Conclusion

Navigating China’s labeling framework for daily chemical products requires more than translation — it demands a precise understanding of GB/T 5296, GB 30000.1, and local compliance nuances. With evolving safety expectations and a growing focus on sustainability, accurate labeling is both a regulatory obligation and a market differentiator.

With Maven Regulatory Solutions as your compliance partner, you can ensure that your products meet every labeling, documentation, and safety requirement for a smooth, compliant, and successful launch in China.