PIPL
China's comprehensive law protecting personal information rights
ISO 45001
International standard for occupational health and safety management
Quick Verdict
PIPL mandates data privacy for China-exposed firms with strict fines, while ISO 45001 offers voluntary OH&S certification for safety excellence. Companies adopt PIPL for legal compliance and market access; ISO 45001 for risk reduction, insurance savings, and ESG leadership.
PIPL
Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)
Key Features
- Extraterritorial scope targeting services to Chinese individuals
- Consent-first processing without legitimate interests basis
- Explicit separate consent for sensitive personal information
- Tiered cross-border transfer mechanisms with security reviews
- Fines up to 5% of annual revenue for violations
ISO 45001
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Key Features
- Top management accountability and worker participation
- Risk-based planning with hierarchy of controls
- Operational controls for contractors and change management
- Performance evaluation via KPIs and audits
- Continual improvement through root cause analysis
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
PIPL Details
What It Is
PIPL (Personal Information Protection Law) is China's first comprehensive national regulation on personal information, effective November 1, 2021. It governs collection, processing, storage, transfer, and deletion of personal data for natural persons in China, with extraterritorial scope. Adopts a risk-based approach like GDPR but emphasizes consent and data sovereignty alongside Cybersecurity Law and Data Security Law.
Key Components
- Eight chapters, 74 articles covering processing rules, cross-border transfers, individual rights.
- Core principles: lawfulness, necessity, minimization, transparency, accountability.
- Sensitive personal information (SPI) rules, automated decision-making protections.
- No certification; compliance via self-governance, CAC filings, audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for entities handling Chinese data to avoid fines up to RMB 50M or 5% revenue.
- Enables market access, builds trust, reduces breach risks.
- Strategic advantages in operations, partnerships, talent attraction.
Implementation Overview
Phased framework: gap analysis, data mapping, policies, controls, monitoring. Applies universally to domestic/foreign organizations, all sizes. Involves DPIAs, consent mechanisms, transfer approvals; ongoing for large-scale handlers.
ISO 45001 Details
What It Is
ISO 45001:2018 is the international standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS). It enables organizations to prevent work-related injury and ill health while proactively improving OH&S performance. Adopting the High-Level Structure (Annex SL) and Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, it promotes a risk-based approach integrated into business processes.
Key Components
- Clauses 4–10: context, leadership/worker participation, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- Emphasizes hierarchy of controls, top management accountability, worker consultation.
- Built on proactive risk/opportunity management; optional certification via accredited audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Drives incident reduction (e.g., 22-29% lower rates), cost savings, insurance benefits.
- Meets legal/compliance needs, enhances resilience and culture.
- Provides competitive edge through IMS integration (e.g., with ISO 9001/14001).
- Builds trust with stakeholders via demonstrated governance.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, training/controls, audits/reviews.
- Scalable for all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
- Certification: Stage 1/2 audits, annual surveillance.
Key Differences
| Aspect | PIPL | ISO 45001 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal information protection and data flows | Occupational health and safety management |
| Industry | All handling Chinese personal data globally | All industries worldwide, high-risk sectors |
| Nature | Mandatory Chinese law with CAC enforcement | Voluntary international certification standard |
| Testing | DPIAs, security reviews, compliance audits | Internal audits, management reviews, certification |
| Penalties | Fines up to 5% revenue or RMB 50M | No legal penalties, loss of certification |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PIPL and ISO 45001
PIPL FAQ
ISO 45001 FAQ
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