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Popular Science | What is the difference between hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods? How to tell the difference? You’ll understand by reading this! What are hazardous chemicals? What are dangerous goods? What is the difference between the two? How then can we distinguish them? I believe all drivers in this field have such doubts. Today, Editor Wei from Siji will explain to you: What is the difference between hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods! I. Different sources of regulations: Article 3 of the Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals (Decree No. 591 of the State Council) states that hazardous chemicals refer to highly toxic chemicals and other chemicals that possess properties such as toxicity, corrosivity, explosiveness, flammability, or oxidizing capacity, and that can cause harm to human beings, facilities, and the environment. As can be seen from the definition, \"hazardous chemicals\" apply to \"chemicals\". http://p7.itc.cn/images01/20200702/cecf0a161ca54d1a9698851397eb2ec2.png The \"Regulations on the Safe Management of Hazardous Goods in Ports\" issued by the Ministry of Transport stipulate that hazardous goods refer to those listed in the \"International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code\" established by the International Maritime Organization and the **standard \"List of Hazardous Goods Names\" (GB12268). Such goods possess properties such as explosiveness, flammability, toxicity, infectivity, corrosivity, or radioactivity; they can cause injury or death, damage to property, or harm to the environment, and therefore require special protection. The \"Regulations on the Management of Road Transport of Hazardous Goods\" issued by the Ministry of Transport stipulate that hazardous goods refer to substances and items with dangerous properties such as explosiveness, flammability, toxicity, infectivity, or corrosiveness; these substances and items can easily cause casualties, property damage, or environmental pollution during production, operation, transportation, storage, use, and disposal, and therefore require special protection. By definition, \"hazardous goods\" apply to both \"chemicals\" and \"articles\", and impose special requirements on the packaging used. II. Different classification principles: The classification of hazardous chemicals is primarily based on the United Nations GHS system. In China, the classification of hazardous chemicals is primarily based on the GB 30000 series of standards, whose technical content is entirely consistent with the fourth revised edition of the United Nations GHS. It emphasizes the hazards associated with various stages such as production, storage, distribution, and transportation. Hazardous chemicals are divided into 28 categories: 16 related to physical hazards, 10 related to health hazards, and 2 related to environmental hazards. http://p0.itc.cn/images01/20200702/1574e49390524a55bc4eb19707771230.jpeg Generally, chemicals that are included in the \"Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals\" (2015 edition) or meet the criteria specified in that catalogue are considered to be hazardous chemicals. Under the current GHS system (6th revision), hazardous chemicals have been categorized into 29 groups (with desensitization added as a new category); however, China’s criteria for identifying hazardous chemicals still cover only 28 groups, as detailed in Table 1. http://p7.itc.cn/images01/20200702/bc3e5b4a406e4d0685dde7b7313140dc.jpeg The principles for identifying hazardous goods in China are primarily based on the \"List of Hazardous Goods\" (GB 12268-2012) and the \"Classification and Coding of Hazardous Goods\" (GB 6944-2012); their technical specifications are consistent with those of TDG. http://p4.itc.cn/images01/20200702/ff758415a26042139b1cf9ee93fe249c.jpeg III. Different principles for determination In China, the main regulatory agencies responsible for hazardous chemicals include the Ministry of Emergency Management, the Quality Inspection Bureau, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, among others ； The regulatory authorities for dangerous goods are mainly the relevant competent authorities in the transportation sector, such as the Ministry of Transport. For some goods, due to their unique properties, they may be classified as hazardous goods even though they are not actually chemical hazards. The main reasons for this are as follows: 1. Such goods are hazardous items but not chemical substances (such as car airbags) ； 2. The transportation conditions for this goods are special (such as transportation at high temperatures) ； 3. The hazard of this goods is not among the 29 hazards of hazardous chemicals (such as infectious substances, radioactive substances). Of course, there is also a large portion of substances that are both hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods, or that are neither hazardous chemicals nor dangerous goods. For example: http://p5.itc.cn/images01/20200702/10e7b5097e844c3c805e2ccf9392adfa.jpeg http://p6.itc.cn/images01/20200702/15d25478a81345048730fff486b32da9.jpeg IV. Quick identification tips 1. Determine whether it is a hazardous chemical based on the product name and CAS number ； 2. According to the safety data sheet, collect the alternative names of the substance, its closed-cup flash point, or use the GHS classification to determine whether it meets the \"definition and criteria for hazardous chemicals\"」 ； 3. Determine whether it is a hazardous material based on the United Nations UN number in the transportation information section of Part 14 of the Safety Data Sheet ； 4. Determine whether the goods are hazardous based on whether transport labels are attached to their outer packaging (for the significant differences between hazard symbol pictograms and hazardous goods transport labels, see Figures 2 and 3) ； 5. Determine whether the goods are hazardous chemicals or dangerous goods based on the classification and identification report of their hazardous properties or the document specifying the conditions for their transportation. After reading this, do you understand the difference between hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods? Once you understand, feel free to follow the WeChat official account “Weisi Driver Platform” to stay informed about the latest developments in the hazardous chemicals industry!