Policy Monitoring Report – New Materials Industry
Date: June 18, 2026
Monitoring Period: June 1, 2026 – June 18, 2026
Report Type: Policy Early Warning Report
Executive Summary
This monitoring exercise has identified significant policy changes: Two mandatory Chinese national standards (GB 30981.1-2025, GB 30981.2-2025) and GB 18580-2025 officially came into effect on June 1, 2026, posing substantial impacts on the coatings and wood-based panels industries. No major updates were found for EU REACH SVHC and US EPA TSCA during this monitoring cycle.
Risk Level: 🔴 High (Mandatory standards already in effect)
1. Major Updates to Chinese GB Standards
1.1 GB 30981.1-2025 & GB 30981.2-2025 “Limit of Hazardous Substances in Coatings”
Effective Date: June 1, 2026
Standard Type: Mandatory National Standard
Scope:
- Part 1: Architectural Coatings
- Part 2: Industrial Coatings
Key Requirements:
- Full-category, full-chain hazardous substance control
- Regarded as the “strictest environmental standard in history”
- Comprehensive upgrade of limits for VOC content, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and other hazardous substances
Affected Industries:
- Architectural coatings manufacturers
- Industrial coatings manufacturers
- Coatings raw material suppliers
- Coatings exporters to EU/US (need to comply with REACH/RoHS simultaneously)
Action Recommendations: ✅
- Immediate Audit: Check test reports for all coating products on sale for compliance with the new standard
- Update Technical Files: Revise product technical specifications, labels, and MSDS
- Supply Chain Audit: Notify raw material suppliers to provide compliance certificates
- Product Iteration: Immediately initiate formulation upgrades for non-compliant products
- Compliance Declaration: Prepare Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for inspection
1.2 GB 18580-2025 “Formaldehyde Emission Limit for Wood-Based Panels”
Effective Date: June 1, 2026
Standard Type: Mandatory National Standard
Key Changes:
- First inclusion of E0 grade (≤0.050mg/m³) as a mandatory requirement
- Applies to wood-based panel products such as flooring, wooden doors, etc.
- Standard is stricter than European and international standards
Affected Industries:
- Wood-based panel manufacturers
- Furniture manufacturers
- Flooring manufacturers
- Interior decoration material suppliers
Action Recommendations: ✅
- Testing Upgrade: Immediately arrange formaldehyde emission testing for products
- Production Line Modification: Upgrade processes for non-compliant production lines
- Alternative Materials: Evaluate application of low-formaldehyde adhesives (e.g., MDI glue)
- Market Communication: Inform customers about new standard requirements to avoid return risks
2. EU REACH SVHC List Monitoring
Monitoring Result: No official announcement of new SVHC substances found during this cycle
Current List Version: 27th batch (224 substances)
Last Update: June 2022 (based on historical data)
Notes:
- ECHA typically updates the SVHC list 1-2 times per year
- Enterprises are advised to continuously monitor ECHA official website
- The 224-substance SVHC list remains the compliance baseline for enterprises
Action Recommendations: ✅
- Maintain Compliance: Ensure products do not contain 224 SVHC substances (≥0.1% w/w)
- Supply Chain Communication: Request SVHC compliance declarations from suppliers
- SCIP Database: If products contain SVHC, notification to SCIP database is required
3. US EPA TSCA Monitoring
Monitoring Result: No major regulatory updates found during this cycle
Current Status: TSCA Inventory under continuous maintenance
Areas of Focus:
- New chemical substance review
- Existing chemical substance risk assessment
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) control trends
Action Recommendations: ✅
- Import Verification: Confirm chemicals exported to the US are listed on the TSCA Inventory
- New Substance Notification: Submit pre-manufacture notices (PMN) to EPA for new chemical exports
- PFAS Awareness: Gradually phase out product formulations containing PFAS
4. Comprehensive Risk Assessment
| Policy Area |
Risk Level |
Impact Scope |
Compliance Deadline |
| China GB 30981-2025 |
🔴 High |
Coatings entire supply chain |
Already in effect (June 1) |
| China GB 18580-2025 |
🔴 High |
Wood panels & furniture |
Already in effect (June 1) |
| EU REACH SVHC |
🟡 Medium |
Exporters to Europe |
Continuous compliance |
| US EPA TSCA |
🟢 Low |
Exporters to US |
Continuous compliance |
5. Priority Action Plan
🚨 Urgent Actions (Within 7 Days)
- ✅ Audit coating products for compliance with GB 30981-2025
- ✅ Audit wood-based panel products for compliance with GB 18580-2025
- ✅ Develop delisting or upgrade plans for non-compliant products
⚠️ Important Actions (Within 30 Days)
- ✅ Update product test reports and technical files
- ✅ Notify supply chain and obtain compliance certificates
- ✅ Prepare response materials for market supervision inspections
📅 Ongoing Actions (Long-term)
- ✅ Establish regulatory tracking mechanism (monthly check)
- ✅ Participate in industry standard training and technical exchanges
- ✅ Build long-term cooperation with third-party testing agencies
6. Sources of Information
- Announcements from the Standardization Administration of China
- Public reports from Tencent News, Foodmate, and other media
- ECHA official website (access limited, based on historical data)
- US EPA official website (access limited, based on historical data)
7. Disclaimer
This report is compiled based on publicly available information and is for reference only. Enterprises should consult professional compliance agencies or legal advisors before taking actual actions.
Report Prepared By: Market Intelligence Officer (New Materials Industry Policy Monitoring Expert)
Next Monitoring Date: June 25, 2026