China released two mandatory national standards: GB 30981.1-2025 and GB 30981.2-2025.

On May 22, 2025, the European Commission released the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) and classified relevant countries into risk tiers, with China being included in the low-risk country list

The regulation also sets a limit of 1,000 mg/kg for the minimum allowable quantity from the effective date, reducing it to 1 mg/kg after 30 months.

Recently, the Ministry of Labor in South Korea, under Article 108(3) of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and Clause 153 of the enforcement rules, officially issued Announcement No. 2025-162, disclosing 72 new chemical substances manufactured and imported in the first quarter of 2025. The hazards, risks, annual manufacturing and import volumes, and measures to prevent worker health damage related to these substances were detailed. Manufacturers and importers of new chemical substances are required to submit a report on the hazards and risks to the Ministry of Labor 30 days before manufacturing or importing these materials.

Japan announced adjustments to the Priority Assessment Chemical Substances List and the requirements for reporting production quantities.

The Draft Law on Hazardous Chemicals Safety of was formally included in the NPC Standing Committee’s 2025 Legislative Work Plan.

The Vietnamese National Assembly unveiled the second draft of the revised Law on Chemicals.

March 28, 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China jointly released the updated national standards GB 12268-2025 List of Dangerous Goods and GB 6944-2025 Classification and Code of Dangerous Goods, marking a new phase in China’s hazardous materials safety management. These two standards will fully replace the current GB 12268-2012 and GB 6944-2012, with official implementation set for October 1, 2025.

In March 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada jointly announced a proposal to add boric acid, its salts, and precursor substances to Part 2 of Schedule 1 (Toxic Substances List) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). This regulatory action aims to strengthen control over environmental and health risks associated with these substances, following an assessment conducted under Section 68 of CEPA.

On February 5, 2025, the South Korean National Assembly officially launched the legislative revision process for the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH), aiming to resolve disputes in the joint submission system for chemical substances and fill legal gaps in the replacement procedures for foreign manufacturers’ designated Only Representatives (OR). The revision, undergoing parliamentary review from February 7 to 21, 2025, marks a critical step in enhancing South Korea’s chemical management framework.