Hebei has shut down or banned more than 200 hazardous chemical enterprises! Which fertilizer and pesticide manufacturers are affected?

Hebei Province, which surrounds Beijing geographically, faces daunting challenges in environmental protection and the transformation and upgrading of its chemical industry. Accordingly, Hebei has issued this notice to further promote the standardization of safe production of hazardous chemicals within the province. The notice states that a comprehensive, blanket inspection will be conducted on the 219 enterprises that have been shut down or banned, with rigorous scrutiny of key issues such as inadequate closure measures, insufficient implementation of safety precautions, and inadequate emergency response preparedness. The list of enterprises that have been shut down or banned under the “Four Batches” initiative is as follows:

In accordance with the comprehensive governance measures formulated through research, the following notice is issued to further strengthen safety supervision and law enforcement related to hazardous chemicals in Hebei Province:

I. Further Strengthen and Improve Administrative Licensing Work

1. Strict safety access control. Any hazardous chemical production project involving the “Two Key Areas and One Major Hazard” must be filed with the provincial investment authority. Starting from the review of the “Three Simultaneities” for project safety facilities, stringent controls shall be applied to fundamental safety conditions, including the enterprise’s surrounding safety environment, internal layout, process‑technology safeguards, the qualifications of personnel, management‑safety capabilities, and the level of automation, thereby ensuring workplace safety at the source.

2. Strict licensing review. Conduct rigorous reviews of the application documents required by laws and regulations, carry out stringent on-site inspections of enterprises’ safety conditions, place particular emphasis on verifying the operational status of enterprises’ major hazard source monitoring and surveillance systems, and focus on assessing the implementation of enterprises’ “three‑pronged” safety production system, their safety responsibility framework, and the dual‑control mechanism. Safety conditions that fail to meet or fall short of the required standards shall, without exception, not be granted (or have their safety permits extended).

3. Strictly select and vet experts. In accordance with the principles of pragmatism, efficiency, and professional expertise, licensing review experts are rigorously selected to ensure they possess the practical experience and specialized competence necessary to carry out review tasks. For the review of large-scale enterprises with high levels of risk, the number of expert panel members shall be increased to ensure that the expert capacity is commensurate with the workload of the review.

4. Improve the mechanism for aligning approval and regulatory oversight. In light of local conditions, we will continuously refine the coordination and interaction mechanisms among licensing and approval processes, safety supervision, and enforcement inspections; clarify the respective responsibilities of each entity; improve workflow alignment; strengthen coordinated collaboration; and foster division of labor and cooperation to jointly ensure workplace safety.

II. Further Enhancing the Inherent Safety of Enterprises

5. Phase out outdated processes and technologies. Vigorously encourage enterprises to adopt advanced technologies, continuously upgrade and replace equipment and facilities listed in the phase-out catalog, ensure that all newly built chemical plants are equipped with automated control systems, mandate safety instrumented systems for chemical facilities involving the “two key areas and one major hazard,” and require existing chemical plants to undergo safety‑design assessments and upgrades to their automated control systems.

6. Strengthen enterprise equipment safety management. Urge enterprises to establish and refine equipment registration ledgers, strengthen the management of safe equipment operation, conduct real-time monitoring and regular inspections of the operating status of critical equipment, safety instruments, and safety accessories, promptly address safety hazards associated with static equipment seals and vulnerable components of rotating machinery, and enhance routine maintenance and upkeep to prevent equipment from operating while faulty.

7. Standardize enterprise change management. Urge enterprises to strictly comply with the former State Administration of Work Safety’s “Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Safety Management of Chemical Processes” (Anjian Zongguan San [2013] No. 88) and this unit’s change management system: change plans must undergo thorough justification; change implementation must be subject to rigorous approval; and upon completion, changes must be inspected and accepted, with corresponding records maintained. Where change management is not standardized and implementation is lax, where relevant operating procedures are not revised in a timely manner, and where safety education and training are not conducted promptly, administrative penalties shall be imposed in accordance with the law.

III. Further Strengthen the Principal Responsibility of Enterprises

8. Urge enterprises to fulfill their principal responsibilities. Urge enterprises to proactively identify and obtain the occupational safety and health laws, regulations, standards, and normative documents applicable to their operations; continuously improve their occupational safety and health responsibility system; strengthen internal supervision and management; and ensure that job‑specific responsibilities and principal responsibilities are fully implemented.

9. Strengthen enterprise safety education and training. Urge enterprises to strictly implement the Measures for the Administration of Work Safety Training and the Regulations on Safety Training for Production and Business Entities, rigorously organize pre‑employment and periodic safety education and training, and ensure that all employees are familiar with the workplace’s hazards and key operational procedures, master the skills and methods for identifying and assessing abnormal operating conditions, conducting emergency response, avoiding risks and disasters, and performing self‑rescue and mutual assistance, and are proficient in the use of personal protective equipment. Individuals who fail the safety training assessment shall not be permitted to perform work.

10. Strictly manage special operations and external construction activities at the enterprise. Urge enterprises to strictly enforce safety management systems for special operations and external construction activities; rigorously conduct pre‑job risk assessments and obtain joint signatures and approvals for work permits; fully implement operational procedures and safety measures; thoroughly inspect and verify the safety conditions at the conclusion of construction work; and strictly prevent unauthorized command, non‑compliant operations, and all types of accidents.

11. Strengthen enterprises’ emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Urge enterprises to, based on their own workplace safety risk assessment results, develop appropriate emergency response plans, procure suitable emergency supplies, and strengthen routine management and maintenance. Urge enterprises to continuously strengthen their awareness of emergency response to unforeseen incidents, conduct emergency drills based on real‑world operational needs, and refine their emergency preparedness measures accordingly, thereby enhancing their capacity to respond effectively to emergencies.

12. Promote the development of enterprise safety standardization. Urge enterprises to fully implement the “Basic Norm for Enterprise Safety Production Standardization” (AQ/T 9006–2010) and the “General Norm for Safety Standardization of Enterprises Engaged in Hazardous Chemicals” (AQ 3013–2008), vigorously carry out integrated law enforcement inspections that integrate safety production with standardization efforts, strengthen the “dual foundations” of enterprise safety production—grassroots-level management and foundational systems—and enhance the level of safety management and the capacity to ensure safe production.

IV. Further Strengthen the Technical Support Role of Intermediary Agencies

13. Fully leverage the role of socialized technical services. Actively encourage enterprises to engage intermediary service providers and leading companies in the same industry to conduct technical reviews of their organization’s “three‑pronged safety management system,” as well as its safety management framework, to determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policy requirements, and to assess alignment with the enterprise’s actual conditions, thereby providing support to enhance overall operational performance.

14. Strengthen oversight and inspection of the intermediary service process. Strengthen process control over safety assessments, and conduct oversight and inspection of technical services such as standardized safety production reviews, safety risk assessments, registration and evaluation of major hazard sources, emergency response plan evaluations, safety production training, and safety production consulting services. Publicly expose any recurring issues identified, and place intermediary agencies found to have committed serious violations on a “blacklist.”

15. Strengthen enforcement inspections of intermediary agencies. When inspecting enterprises or investigating accidents, intermediary agencies must be scrutinized; on-site inspections should trace back to the technical services provided by these intermediaries. If it is found that a safety assessment report does not conform to the actual conditions or contains significant omissions, the agency and its relevant persons in charge shall, in accordance with the law, be subject to warnings and fines. For those who issue false certificates or falsified evaluation reports, their evaluation qualifications shall be revoked in accordance with laws and regulations, thereby compelling institutions to enhance the quality of their services and truly serve as an effective and reliable technical support for workplace safety.

V. Further Promote the Establishment of Enterprises’ “Dual Control” Mechanism

16. Promote enterprises in strengthening risk identification. Urge enterprises to, in accordance with the “Guidelines for Process Safety Management in Chemical Enterprises” (AQ/T 3034–2010) and our province’s detailed risk‑identification procedures, employ advanced assessment methods such as Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP) to conduct systematic process‑risk analyses covering process technology, equipment, instrumentation, control systems, and emergency response. This will ensure effective management of major safety risks and resolutely prevent accidents.

17. Promote enterprises in implementing the rectification of potential hazards. Promote the gradual establishment of a hazard identification and remediation system that achieves comprehensive coverage and engages all employees, progressively institutionalizing and normalizing hazard identification and mitigation. Ensure the timely detection and elimination of potential accident hazards, promptly track and conduct in-depth analyses of their root causes, thoroughly identify shortcomings in management systems, swiftly address gaps in the accountability framework, and continuously refine the hazard identification and remediation system to elevate its overall effectiveness.

18. Strengthen specialized assessments and law enforcement related to the “dual control” mechanism. In accordance with the “Hebei Province Measures for the Assessment of the Construction of the Dual-Control Mechanism for Work Safety in Production and Business Entities,” a comprehensive assessment and scoring of enterprises’ dual-control mechanism implementation shall be conducted, while strengthening targeted enforcement inspections. For those who fail to implement the “dual-control” responsibilities as required, inadequately conduct risk identification, or delay the rectification of hidden hazards, stringent administrative penalties shall be imposed in accordance with the law.

VI. Further Deepen the Special Rectification Campaign in the Chemical Industry

19. Coordinate and advance the targeted campaign. Integrate targeted remediation efforts with hazard identification, enforcement inspections, and the implementation of enterprises’ principal responsibilities. Organize expert panels to conduct specialized assessments of major safety risks—such as internal and external safety distances, major hazard sources, automated control systems, and emergency response facilities—within chemical industrial parks, eliminate significant hazards, and rigorously prevent risk spillover.

20. Vigorously implement the “Four Batches” initiative. For enterprises ordered to shut down or phased out, ensure that production is halted in accordance with the prescribed timelines and that dismantling is initiated pursuant to the shutdown plan, thereby guaranteeing thorough and safe closure. For enterprises relocating to the industrial park, rigorously implement pre-relocation security and technical safety measures, and promote post-relocation renovation and upgrading.

21. Strengthen specialized supervision and law enforcement. Strengthen oversight and follow-up of special rectification campaigns by adopting a combination of regular and ad hoc inspections, open inspections and undercover visits, as well as targeted spot checks and comprehensive reviews, to ensure the effective implementation and tangible results of the “Four Batches” initiative. Strengthen law enforcement inspections of enterprises that have been shut down or relocated. Conduct comprehensive, blanket inspections of the 219 enterprises that have been closed or banned, rigorously addressing key issues such as inadequate closure measures, insufficient implementation of safety precautions, and inadequate emergency response preparedness.

VII. Further Enhancing the Quality of Administrative Law Enforcement

22. Continuously strengthen professional capacity building. Guided by practical issues, we have organized and conducted centralized training, online courses, case‑based警示教育 sessions, and law‑enforcement skill competitions to encourage enforcement personnel to proactively deepen their learning—drawing insights from real‑world enforcement practice, seeking guidance from relevant experts, and engaging in knowledge‑sharing with regulatory divisions and offices. This approach ensures a comprehensive grasp of applicable laws and regulations, industry standards, and safety‑inspection protocols, thereby continuously enhancing their policy‑making acumen and professional competence.

23. Foster a sound philosophy of law enforcement centered on safety. Safety enforcement has shifted from inspecting enterprises for specific hazards to verifying the implementation of principal responsibility, with enforcement and accountability now focused on addressing concrete issues and holding enterprises accountable for their primary responsibilities. Emphasize inspections of the principal persons in charge of enterprises to ensure they fulfill their statutory safety responsibilities, trace accountability back to the root causes of violations, and enforce the principle of primary responsibility, thereby focusing on the “key link” and addressing the core issues. Balancing law enforcement with service, we emphasize disseminating the latest regulations and standards to enterprises and sharing best practices from other companies.

24. Continuously standardize and enhance the quality of supervisory and law enforcement activities. Strictly implement the “three systems” for administrative law enforcement, rigorously enforce accountability, and ensure comprehensive recording and public disclosure throughout the entire process—before, during, and after enforcement. Relevant enforcement decisions shall be promptly submitted for legal review and collective deliberation and approval. Before enforcement, make thorough preparations by gaining a comprehensive understanding of the enterprise’s workplace safety practices and any prior enforcement actions or penalties, thereby pinpointing the specific objectives and priorities of the inspection. During law enforcement, fully leverage the technical support provided by on-site experts to ensure that potential hazards are identified, issues are accurately pinpointed, and corrective recommendations are scientifically sound and well‑justified. Carry out follow-up enforcement work diligently, identify and address any gaps, and prevent oversight or errors.

25. Closely monitor enterprises’ weak links and critical areas. Identify the blind spots and gaps in enterprise safety management, closely monitor weak links and critical areas, and conduct targeted enforcement inspections of facilities involving “photochemical” and “nitrification” processes as well as hot‑work operations. Strictly investigate and address violations such as falsifying personnel training records, unauthorized process modifications, inadequate performance of duties by on‑duty personnel in central control rooms, and failure to affix legally required labels on hazardous chemical packaging.

26. Severely punish enterprises for illegal and non-compliant conduct. Exercise strict discretion in imposing administrative penalties, and impose resolute and severe sanctions on violations that have been repeatedly identified in prior enforcement actions and are once again found during this round of enforcement. For violations involving deliberate disregard of the law, where hazards have been repeatedly documented yet remain unremedied, we will resolutely impose penalties at the statutory maximum. For entities with significant safety hazards that cannot be rectified within a short period and are likely to trigger production safety accidents, we will resolutely order them to suspend production and operations for remediation.

27. Promote grassroots safety supervision and regulatory work. With regard to major accident hazards and prominent issues identified during inspections, opinions and recommendations from supervisory enforcement are communicated to local governments and relevant departments, urging the strict implementation of the requirements of “joint responsibility of the Party and the government, dual responsibility for each post, concerted efforts by all parties, and accountability for dereliction of duty,” thereby ensuring the rigorous fulfillment of leadership responsibilities for work safety.

28. Accelerate the development of law enforcement informatization. Accelerate the development of an information network for safety enforcement inspections, actively seek legal recognition for online review, approval and signature processes, and records of collective deliberations, and progressively achieve the digitalization of enforcement inspections, thereby comprehensively enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative law enforcement.

VIII. Further Strengthen Interdepartmental Joint Supervision in the Chemical Industry

29. Strengthen regulatory coordination among industry departments. Under the existing laws, regulations, and working mechanisms, we will conscientiously fulfill our departmental responsibilities, proactively exchange information and report on developments, actively engage in communication and coordination, and systematically conduct joint supervisory inspections. The joint housing and urban–rural development construction management authorities shall strengthen supervision and inspection of the construction quality and safety of chemical engineering projects. The joint housing and urban–rural development and gas administration authorities shall strengthen oversight and inspection of enterprise projects involving “coal-to-gas” and “oil-to-gas” conversions, as well as the storage and use of natural gas. The joint ecological and environmental protection authorities have strengthened oversight and inspection of enterprises’ emissions of flammable, explosive, and toxic substances, as well as their wastewater and solid waste. Jointly with market regulatory authorities, strengthen oversight and inspection of special equipment, pressure vessels, pressure pipelines, and safety detection and monitoring instruments at chemical enterprises. The transportation and public security traffic management authorities will strengthen oversight and inspection of the loading and unloading stages in the road transport of hazardous chemicals, ensuring that safety conditions in relevant areas comply with regulations and that safety management meets required standards. They will eliminate regulatory gaps and blind spots to maintain a stable safety production situation across the province’s hazardous chemical industry.

Source of the article: Hebei Provincial Emergency Management Department