Recently, 7 enterprises without Safe Production Permit for hazardous chemicals (hereinafter as HC SP Permit) were ordered to shut down their recycling devices for Dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent by Wenzhou Administration of Work Safety.
DMF is harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin, irritating to eyes and may cause harm to unborn child. Any legal entities producing such hazardous chemicals in China shall obtain a Safe Production Permit from the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) in accordance with the national Measures for the Administration of Hazardous Chemicals Safe Production Permit(State Council Decree 41), which were issued in 2004 and revised in 2011. On 5 April 2012, 10 updated application documents directly related to the application of a HC SP Permit were published. A new on-site inspection informing letter for HC SP Permit applicants is added to the original nine types of documentation indicating a new requirement for specific on-site inspection items, which should be paid more attention to.
Since DMF also belongs to the List of Banned Chemicals for Use in Cosmetics in China, the Chinese government prohibits the use of it in the cosmetics produced or imported in China. It’s worth noting that when impurities in cosmetics are included in the Banned List, a safety risk assessment should be carried out.
