Category: Toxics Management / Toxics Control

Directions, Repealed, Last revision on December 13 2004

Refer to the current Chinese source of this law.

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Guidelines for Marking of Packaging and Handling Sites and Facilities of Toxic Chemical Substances and Establishment of Materials Safety Data Sheets

Promulgated by EPA order Huan-Shu-Tu-Tzu No. 0027437 on May 5, 1998
Promulgated by EPA order Huan-Shu-Tu-Tzu No. 0006419 on Feb 2, 2001
Promulgated by EPA order Huan-Shu-Tu-Tzu No. 0930091676 on Dec. 13, 2004

Table 1 General Classification of Hazardous Substances and Symbols
Table 2 Marking Format
Table 3 Content Items for Materials Safety Data Sheets
Table 4 Reference Materials Safety Data Sheet Format

The Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan (herein referred to as the EPA) has determined these Guidelines in order to implement the regulations of Article 15 of the Toxic Chemical Substances Control Act (herein referred to as this Act) governing the preparation of materials safety data sheets by toxic chemical substance handling personnel, and the marking of items related to toxicity and pollution control on toxic chemical substance containers, packaging, and facilities.
The containers and packaging in these Guidelines refer to any bags, receptacles, bottles, boxes, tanks, cans, or other containers that can be filled with toxic chemical substances, and includes capacitors and transformers containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). However, storage tanks, pipelines, reactors, and other fixed facilities shall not be subject to these restrictions.
The handling sites and facilities in these Guidelines, pursuant to Article 17 of this Act’s enforcement rules, refer to sites used for the manufacture, import, export, sale, transport, use, storage, or disposal of toxic chemical substances, conveyance pipelines, or other facilities including storage tanks and transport-related placement, loading, and unloading sites. However, facilities used for performing chemical reactions shall not be subject to this restriction.
Toxic chemical substance containers and packaging shall be clearly marked in the format shown in attached reference Table 2 with the following items in accordance with the classification and symbols determined in attached Table 1:
1. Shape is an upright rectangle with 45° angles (rhombus). The minimum dimensions of symbols on containers or packaging with a capacity in excess of 100 liters (inclusive) are shown in the following chart. The symbols on containers or packaging with a capacity of less than 100 liters may be proportionally reduced in size insofar as they are still clearly recognizable.
2. Content:
  1. Chinese and English name
  2. Chinese and English Names of Main Components: Components that are toxic chemical substances and present in quantities exceeding the controlled concentration standards shall be marked using the Chinese and English names determined in an EPA announcement with the words Toxic chemical substance and the percentage content of toxic chemical substance (w/w or v/v).
  3. Hazard Warning Information: Hazard characteristic information listed in attached warning Table 1, including the toxicological hazard determined in Article 2 of this Act.
  4. Hazard Prevention Measures: Hazard characteristic measures listed in attached prevention Table 1, including pollution control measures.
  5. Name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer or supplier
Containers or packaging with a capacity of less than 100 milliliters may be marked only with the name and symbol of the toxic chemical substance.
Manufacturers and importers of toxic chemical substances shall mark each container or package. Those who purchase toxic chemical substances shall maintain the clarity and integrity of marking content.
Users shall mark containers and packaging used for the individual packaging or preparation of toxic chemical substances on a self-use basis (limited to containers and packaging for immediate use by the current shift; laboratory-use containers and packaging shall not be subject to this restriction). A signboard installed in an obvious location may be used in place of the container or packaging markings when several containers or packages containing the same toxic chemical substances for self-use are placed in the same location; the signboard content shall comply with the regulations of Point 11.
Toxic chemical substance containers and packaging meeting the following conditions are exempt from the marking regulations of these Guidelines:
1. When the outer container or packaging already bears markings, inner containers or packaging used only as lining and not subsequently removed.
2. When the inner container or packaging already bears markings, outer containers or packaging allowing the marking items to be seen clearly.
3. Toxic chemical substances are taken from marked containers or packaging and immediately used solely by the current shift.
4. Toxic chemical substances are taken from marked containers or packaging and used for experiments or research by a laboratory on a self-use basis.
Markings on the containers or packaging of exported toxic chemical substances may comply with customary international practice or solely with relevant regulations of the receiving country.
When handling personnel have already marked inner containers or packaging containing toxic chemical substances, external containers or packaging used exclusively for transport may be marked solely pursuant to transport-related laws and regulations.
Markings on toxic chemical substance handling sites and facilities (apart from those used for disposal) shall include the following items, which shall be summarized in Chinese on a signboard placed in an obvious, clearly visible location:
1. Same as the regulations of Point 4(1) of these Guidelines.
2. Content:
  1. Chinese and English name
  2. Chinese and English Names of Main Components: Components that are toxic chemical substances and present in quantities exceeding the controlled concentration standards shall be marked using the Chinese and English names determined in an EPA announcement with the words Toxic chemical substance and the percentage content of toxic chemical substance (w/w or v/v).
  3. Hazard Warning Information: The hazard characteristic information items listed in attached warning Table 1 shall include an explanation of toxicological characteristics and warning against inhalation, ingestion, or direct skin contact.
  4. Hazard Prevention Measures: Hazard characteristic measures listed in attached prevention Table 1 shall include poisoning first-aid methods, pollution control measures and emergency handling methods, alert and announcement methods, regulations governing the use of fire prevention or other accident prevention devices, personnel mobilization and emergency rescue regulations, and emergency response notification methods.
Pipelines, distribution pipes, and other conveyance systems and facilities used in the handling of toxic chemical substances shall be marked in an obvious location with the Chinese and English names of the toxic chemical substances, which shall also be marked in any clearly-visible location near the conveyance lines. When necessary, the names shall be posted on a sign.
A handling site that handles more than one type of toxic chemical substance may put all marking content on the same signboards; any hazard warning information and hazard prevention measure items that are the same may be combined.
Warehouses or handling sites used for the temporarily storage of non-specific toxic chemical substance during the air or sea transport loading and unloading process may be marked with the words Dangerous Goods (Storage) in place of the markings designated in Point 11.
When the amount of toxic chemical substance handled is less than the minimum controlled limit and the substance is used solely for the purpose of experimentation, research, or education, the Chinese and English words Toxic Chemicals in Operation shall be marked at all entrances and exits in the handling site, but the items designated in Point 11 do not need to be marked.
Materials safety data sheets shall be kept on hand when toxic chemical substance are handled. The content of the materials safety data sheets is as prescribed in attached Table 3; the format is shown in attached Table 4. Materials safety data sheets shall be produced in accordance with the following regulations:
1. Manufacturers or importers shall produce materials safety data sheets; the emergency contact telephone numbers therein shall be usable at all times and provide emergency response consulting service. The content of a materials safety data sheet shall be updated at least once every three years.
2. Sellers of toxic chemical substances shall keep materials safety data sheets on hand, and shall send materials safety data sheets to buyers with shipments of toxic chemical substances.
3. Toxic chemical substance handling personnel shall keep materials safety data sheets in an easily accessible location in the handling site.
Importers of toxic chemical substances and those who purchase toxic chemical substances at customs auctions shall complete marking of the substances’ containers or packaging within four days after claiming the substances from customs, and shall keep materials safety data sheets on hand.
If the toxic chemical substance in these Guidelines are mixtures, except when separately announced and designated by the central competent authority, the toxicity shall be determined pursuant to the following regulations:
1. The toxicity of substances already subjected to overall testing shall be determined in accordance with overall testing results.
2. Except when verifying scientific data is available, the toxicity of substances not subjected to overall testing shall be deemed to be the same as the toxicity and health hazard of each component.
The revised items of Points 4, 11, 12, 14, and 15, and of attached Tables 2, 3, and 4, shall take effect from the date of announcement. Represent handling toxic chemical substances prior to revision shall complete improvements by December 31, 2005.

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Attached Table 1 General Classification of Hazardous Substances and Symbols

Classification of hazardous substances		Symbol	Explanation	Remarks
Category	Category	Symbol	Explanation	Remarks
Class 1: Explosives	1.1 Substances or goods with overall explosion hazard. 1.2 Substances or goods with projectile hazard but no overall explosion hazard. 1.3 Substances or goods that may cause fire, and may easily explode or eject projectiles, but have no overall explosion hazard.		Symbol: Bomb explosion, black Background: Orange Numeral 1 in bottom corner *: Type number location : Compatibility group location States explosive between symbol and type number	Table of definitions and graphics in accordance with Chinese National Standards CNS 6864 Z5071 hazardous substance marking regulations.
	1.4 Substances and goods with no major hazard.		Background: Orange Text: Black Numerals have a height of 30 mm, and a width of 5 mm(when the marking has a size of 100 mm×100 mm) Numeral 1 in bottom corner
	1.5 Substances or goods that are highly non-sensitive but have overall explosion hazard.		Background: Orange Text: Black Numerals have a height of 30 mm, and a width of 5 mm(when the marking has a size of 100 mm×100mm) Numeral 1 in bottom corner
	1.6 Substances or goods that are extremely non-sensitive and have no overall explosion hazard.		Background: Orange Text: Black Numerals have a height of 30 mm, and a width of 5 mm(when the marking has a size of 100mm×100mm) Numeral 1 in bottom corner
Class 2: Gases	2.1 Flammable gases		Symbol: Flame, may be either black or white Background: Red Numeral 2 in bottom corner States flammable gas between symbol and type number
	2.2 Non-flammable, nontoxic gases		Symbol: May be white or black for a gas cylinder Background: Green Numeral 2 in bottom corner States non-flammable, non-toxic gas between symbol and type number
	2.3 Toxic gases		Symbol: Skull and crossbones, black Background: White Numeral 2 in bottom corner States toxic gas between symbol and type number
Class 3: Flammable Liquid	No subtypes		Symbol: Flame, may be either black or white Background: Red Numeral 3 in bottom corner States flammable liquid between symbol and type number
Class 4: Flammable Solids, Self-igniting Substances, Dangerous When Wet Substances	4.1 Flammable solids		Symbol: Flame, black Background: White background with seven red bands Numeral 4 in bottom corner States flammable solid between symbol and type number
	4.2 Self-igniting substances		Symbol: Flame, black Background: White upper half, red lower half Numeral 4 in bottom corner States self-igniting substance between symbol and type number
	4.3 Dangerous when wet substances		Symbol: Flame, may be either black or white Background: Blue Numeral 4 in bottom corner States dangerous when wet substance between symbol and type number
Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides	5.1 Oxidizing substances		Symbol: Flame above a circle, black Background: Yellow Numeral 5.1 in bottom corner States oxidizing substance between symbol and type number
Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides	5.2 Organic peroxides		Symbol: Flame above a circle, black Background: Yellow Numeral 5.2 in bottom corner States organic peroxide between symbol and type number
Class 6: Toxic Substances	6.1 Toxic substances		Symbol: Skull and crossbones, black Background: White Numeral 6 in bottom corner States toxic substance between symbol and type number
Class 7: Radioactive Substances	Radioactive substance subtypes I, II, and III Fissionable substances	Handle in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of the Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan	Handle in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of the Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
Class 8: Corrosive Substances	No subtypes		Symbol: Liquid splashing on hand and metal from two glass containers, black Background: White upper half, black lower half with white edge Numeral 8 in bottom corner States corrosive substance between symbol and type number
Class 9: Other Hazardous Substances	No subtypes		Symbol: Seven vertical black strips on upper half Background: White Numeral 9 in bottom corner

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Table 2 Marking Format

Notes:

Symbol shall comply with regulations in attached Table 1.
Arrange in order of Arabic numbers when there are two or more symbols.

Chinese and English names:
Chinese & English names of main components:
Hazard warning information:
Hazard prevention measures:
Manufacturer or Supplier:
1. Name
2. Address
3. Telephone

Please refer to the materials safety data sheets for more detailed information

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Table 3 Content Items for Materials Safety Data Sheets

Material and manufacturer information:

Chinese and English material name, material number, name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer or supplier, and emergency contact telephone number/fax number.
Component identification information:
- Chinese and English name, synonyms, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS No.) and hazardous components (percentage composition).
- Mixtures: Chemical characteristics, Chinese and English names of hazardous components (percentage composition), concentration or concentration range, and classification and symbols of hazardous substances.
Hazard identification information:

Most important harmful effects, principal symptoms, and material hazard classification.
First aid measures:

First aid methods for different exposure pathways, most important symptoms and hazardous effects, protection for first aid personnel, and tips for physicians.
Fire extinguishing measures:

Usable fire extinguishing agents, special hazards that may be encountered when extinguishing a fire, special fire extinguishing procedures, and special safety equipment needed by fire extinguishing personnel.
Leak handling methods:

Individual precautions, environmental precautions, and clean-up methods.
Safe disposal and storage methods:

Disposal and storage
Exposure prevention measures:

Engineering control, control parameters, individual safety equipment, and health measures.
Physical and chemical characteristics:

Physical form, shape, control, odor, pH value (pH value), boiling point/boiling point range, decomposition temperature, flash point, self-ignition temperature, explosion limit, vapor pressure, vapor density, density, and solubility.
Stability and reactivity:

Stability, hazardous reactions in special situations, situations to avoid, substances to avoid, and hazardous decomposition products.
Toxicological information:

Acute toxicity, local effects, irritation, chronic and long-term toxicity, and special reactions.
Ecological information:

Possible ecological impact/environmental fate.
Waste disposal methods:

Waste disposal methods.
Transport information:

International transport regulations, U.N. number, domestic transport regulations, special transport methods and precautions.
Legal information:

Applicable laws and regulations.
Other information:

Reference literature, table producing unit, produced by, date produced.

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Table 4 Reference Materials Safety Data Sheet Format

Material and manufacturer information:

Chinese and English names of material:

Material number:

Name, address, and telephone number of the manufacturer or supplier:

Emergency contact telephone number/fax number:

Component identification information:

Pure substances:

Chinese and English names:

Synonyms:

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS No.）：

Hazardous components (percentage composition):

Mixtures:

Chemical characteristics:
Chinese and English names of hazardous components	Concentration or concentration range (percentage composition)	Hazardous substance classification and symbol

Hazard identification information:

Most important harmful effects	Health hazards:
	Environmental impact:
	Physical and chemical hazards:
	Special hazards:
Principal symptoms:
Material hazard classification:

First aid measures

First aid methods for different exposure pathways:

Inhalation:
Skin contact:
Eye contact:
Ingestion:

Most important symptoms and hazardous effects:

Protection for first aid personnel:

Tips for physicians:

Fire extinguishing measures

Usable fire extinguishing agents:

Special hazards that may be encountered when extinguishing a fire:

Special fire extinguishing procedures:

Special safety equipment needed by fire extinguishing personnel:

Leak handling methods:

Individual precautions:

Environmental precautions:

Clean-up methods:

Safe disposal and storage methods:

Disposal:

Storage:

Exposure prevention measures:

Engineering control:

Control parameters:

Average allowable concentration in eight-hour day/average allowable short-term concentration/maximum allowable concentration:
Biological indicators:

Individual safety equipment:

Respiratory protection:
Hand protection:
Eye protection:
Skin and body protection:

Health measures:

Physical and chemical characteristics:

Physical form:	Shape:
Color:	Odor:
pH value (pH):	Boiling point/boiling point range:
Decomposition temperature:	Flash point: ℉ ℃ Test method: Open cup Closed cup
Self-ignition temperature:	Explosion limit:
Vapor pressure:	Vapor density:
Density:	Solubility:

Stability and reactivity:

Stability:

Hazardous reactions in special situations:

Situations to avoid:

Substances to avoid:

Hazardous decomposition products:

Toxicological information:

Acute toxicity:

Local effects:

Irritation:

Chronic and long-term toxicity:

Special reactions:

Ecological information:

Possible ecological impact/environmental fate:
Waste disposal methods:

Waste disposal methods:

Transport information:

International transport regulations:

U.N. number:

Domestic transport regulations:

Special transport methods and precautions:

Legal information:

Applicable laws and regulations:

Other information:

Reference literature:
Table producing unit	Name
Table producing unit	Address/Tel.:
Produced by	Title:	Name (signature/seal):
Production date

LAWS

Guidelines for Marking of Packaging and Handling Sites and Facilities of Toxic Chemical Substances and Establishment of Materials Safety Data Sheets

Table of Contents

Attached Table 1 General Classification of Hazardous Substances and Symbols

Table 2 Marking Format

Table 3 Content Items for Materials Safety Data Sheets

Table 4 Reference Materials Safety Data Sheet Format