On May 5, 2023, Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the Notice on Collecting Public Opinions on the Technical Specification for Nomenclature of Chemicals for Environmental Management (Draft for Comments). This Technical Specification is compiled to standardize nomenclature chemicals for environmental management, and to regulate the environmental management registration of new chemical substances and the management of Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China (IECSC), and the environmental risk assessment and control of chemicals. Comments can be sent back to the MEE before June 25, 2023.

On May 8, 2023, the European Commission opened a call for evidence on its impact assessment on Regulation (EU) No 649/2012 (PIC Regulation). The consultation closes on July 31. The international trade in hazardous chemicals is regulated by the UN's Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and all 165 Member States are parties to the convention. Since 2012, it has been necessary to evaluate certain requirements in the PIC Regulation in a targeted way. In 2020, the volume of imported chemicals under the PIC Regulation was around 667,000 tons. EU takes necessary actions to manage chemicals, which not only protects human health and the environment around the world but also maintains EU policies and the single market.

On May 24, 2023, Guangzhou Administration for Market Regulation Released the Cosmetics Re-inspection Process. The main content includes re-inspection application materials and processes, re-inspection fees, application of re-inspection conclusions, forms of non re-inspection, and answers to common questions.

From years of regulatory compliance experience, we’ve translated a selection of some frequently asked questions on foods for special medical purposes (FSMP) applications to help you understand the current requirements in China.

Policy Interpretation – How to Enter the "Fast Track" of Priority Approval? ——This policy was implemented on January 1, 2017 1. Scope of priority approval Projects those are applicable to the priority approval of "fast track" a. Applications for registration of domestic Class III medical devices. b. Applications for registration of imported Class II and Class III medical devices. Projects those are not applicable to the "fast track" of Priority Approval a. Filing of Class I medical devices; b. Applications for registration renewal and registration change; c. Applications that have been included in the approval process in accordance with the emergency approval procedures for medical devices or the special approval procedures for innovative medical devices. 2. The conditions for applying for priority approval (1) Diagnose or treat rare diseases, with obvious clinical advantages. (2) Diagnose or treat malignant tumors, with obvious clinical advantages. (3) Diagnose or treat specific and multiple diseases to the elderly, and there are currently no effective diagnoses or treatments. (4) Dedicated to children, with obvious clinical advantages. (5) Clinically urgently needed, and for which there are no registered medical devices of the same species in China. (6) Medical devices listed in major national science and technology projects or national key research and development programs. (7) Other medical devices that should be prioritized for approval, shall be determined by NMPA after extensively soliciting of opinions and organizing experts to demonstrate. 3. When is the priority approval application submitted? Those who meet the above priority approval conditions shall submit the application for priority approval together with the registration application for medical devices.

China's ICAMA published draft Provisions on the "Measures on the Management of Pesticide Registration" for public comments on May 12, 2023. Comments can be made to the Department of Pesticide Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs before May 30, 2023. We have compared the current version of "Measures on the Management of Pesticide Registration" with the draft, and summarized the main changes for your reference.