New Materials Policy Monitoring Daily (2026-08-14) | EU REACH SVHC & China GB Standards

Date: August 14, 2026 (Friday)

Monitored domains: EU REACH SVHC Candidate List; China Mandatory GB Standards (plus US EPA TSCA baseline)
Risk level: Low (Ongoing Watch)

1. No Major Same-Day Changes

A review of the EU REACH SVHC Candidate List and China’s mandatory GB standards identified no formally effective major policy changes on August 14, 2026.

2. Recent Marginal Developments to Watch (Not same-day formal changes)

2.1 EU REACH SVHC — 4,4′-Methylenediphenol (BPF, Bisphenol F) Re-listed on SVHC Intention List

• Date: On August 10, 2026, ECHA re-added BPF to the SVHC Intention List.
• Background: BPF first entered the Intention List in June 2025 and a public consultation opened in September 2025, but the proposal was withdrawn in February 2026 and BPF was not formally added to the Candidate List. It has now been re-listed.
• Plan: Public consultation is scheduled to open in February 2027.
• Current Candidate List size: 250 entries (unchanged since the June 2025 update).
• Impact: BPF is widely used in epoxy resins, phenolic resins and coatings within the new materials sector. Once formally added to the Candidate List, it would trigger REACH Article 33 supply-chain communication obligations (mandatory notification where articles contain >0.1% w/w) and SCIP database notification duties.

2.2 China Mandatory GB Standards — Multiple standards now in enforcement phase (baseline)

• GB 30981.1-2025 / GB 30981.2-2025 (Limits of Hazardous Substances in Coatings, Parts 1 & 2): mandatory since June 1, 2026, replacing 7 legacy standards; VOC and phthalates (≤0.1%), lead (≤90 mg/kg), mercury (≤10 mg/kg) limits tightened; oversight has extended to inks/cleaners.
• GB 18580-2025 (Formaldehyde Release Limits for Wood-Based Panels): effective June 1, 2026; E0 grade (≤0.050 mg/m³) becomes a mandatory threshold for the first time.
• GB 38031-2025 (Safety Requirements for Traction Battery of Electric Vehicles): effective July 1, 2026; adds bottom impact, post-fast-charge safety, and thermal propagation (no fire/explosion) tests.

3. Impact Analysis

For exporters: the EU-bound supply chain should add BPF to its SVHC screening plan; domestic Chinese manufacturers must ensure conformity verification and reflect the above GB standards in product testing reports. Compliance thresholds for coatings, wood-based panels, and power battery supply chains have broadly risen; SMEs face near-term cost pressure.

4. Recommended Actions

1. Immediately: Add BPF to the REACH SVHC high-risk substance screening list; build supplier questionnaires and alternative-material assessment; prepare to respond quickly when the February 2027 consultation opens.
2. Immediately: Verify in-production coatings/wood-panel/battery products have obtained GB 30981 / GB 18580 / GB 38031 test reports and declarations; close gaps by deadline.
3. Ongoing: Subscribe to ECHA SVHC formal updates (typically January and June each year) and China’s national standards announcements; this monitoring will track them continuously.

5. Baseline Information

• EU REACH SVHC Candidate List: 250 entries (as of June 2025)
• Recently enforced China GB standards: GB 30981.1/.2-2025, GB 18580-2025, GB 38031-2025 (all in force)
• US EPA TSCA: no major 2026 rule for new materials/chemicals; baseline maintained