Chile Regulatory Landscape: GHS, Chemical Notification, EPR and Imports

Working Heroes
7 days ago
3 min read

July 2026 update: Chile's second notification cycle for hazardous industrial-use substances is open. National manufacturers and importers must notify by August 30, 2026, substances manufactured or imported in 2024 and 2025 when the quantity exceeded one metric ton per year. This deadline is specific to the 2026 cycle.

Chile operates one of Latin America's more structured chemical-management systems. Compliance combines GHS classification and labeling, safety data sheets, periodic hazardous-substance notification, storage controls, extended producer responsibility, and product-specific sanitary or customs requirements.

1. Supreme Decree 57/2019: classification, labeling and notification

Supreme Decree 57/2019 establishes criteria and duties for hazardous substances and mixtures. Manufacturers and importers must classify physical, health, and environmental hazards, prepare labels and safety data sheets, and comply with applicable notification processes.

The SDS must identify the supplier in Chile.
A Chilean emergency telephone number available 24 hours a day must be provided.
The SDS classification must align with the label and notified information.
Distributors and repackagers may also carry duties for regulated activities such as labeling and information supply.

2. SQI platform and new substances

The Ministry of the Environment's Chemical Substances Platform manages notification processes. For the 2026 cycle, the scope covers hazardous industrial-use substances manufactured or imported in 2024 and 2025 above the annual threshold announced by the authority. Submissions include substance data and safety data sheets.

A substance absent from the official lists resulting from prior cycles may be treated as new and should be assessed for notification before commercialization. Portfolio screening against the published lists is therefore an essential pre-launch step.

3. Storage of hazardous substances

Supreme Decree 43/2015 regulates hazardous-substance storage. Depending on hazard classes, quantities, and facility characteristics, requirements may include sanitary authorization, segregation, containment, signage, packaging compatibility, inventories, emergency planning, and facility-information updates. SDSs must remain available in printed or digital form.

4. Packaging EPR under Law 20,920

Law 20,920 established extended producer responsibility. Supreme Decree 12/2020 sets collection, recovery, and associated requirements for packaging and is fully in force. Producers must organize and finance waste management through individual or collective systems, maintain reliable market-placement data, and meet applicable reporting and recovery obligations.

Industrial consumers may deliver waste to a management system or choose direct recovery through authorized operators. Choosing the independent route requires advance annual notice to the Ministry and continued use of the selected regime for the applicable period.

5. Health-controlled products

Medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, sanitary-use pesticides, disinfectants, and other categories may fall under the Institute of Public Health or regional health authorities. Depending on category, companies may need product registration, establishment authorization, a Customs Destination Certificate, use authorization, or specific technical documentation before distribution or use.

6. Imports and market access

Customs classification must be combined with regulatory product classification. Imports may depend on certificates, approvals, or authorizations from ISP, regional health authorities, SAG, SERNAPESCA, or other agencies. Companies should also assess Spanish labeling, local supplier information, origin, composition, intended use, and safety documents before shipment.

Chile market-entry checklist

Classify the product, composition, use, and hazards under the applicable regime.
Confirm the importer, Chilean supplier, and emergency telephone service.
Screen every substance against official lists and assess periodic or pre-market notification.
Validate labels, SDSs, storage, emergency plans, and facility records.
Map packaging EPR duties and the selected management system.
Confirm registrations, certificates, and import authorizations before shipment.

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