Policy Alert | EU REACH Microplastics Amendment & China Coatings New GB Standards Enforced (2026-06-20)

📢 Policy Alert Report | June 20, 2026

Monitoring Period: June 1-20, 2026

Risk Level: 🔴 High – Two Major Policies Enforced

I. Overview of Major Policy Changes

II. Policy Details and Impact Analysis

🇪🇺 Policy 1: EU REACH Regulation (EU) 2026/1168

Publication Date: June 2, 2026

Revision Content: Amendment to Annex XVII Item 78 of REACH Regulation regarding restrictions on synthetic polymer microparticles (microplastics)

Key Changes:

1. Expanded Pharmaceutical Exemptions: Now explicitly includes all human and veterinary medicinal products, covering medicines for clinical trials and preparatory preclinical safety testing
2. New R&D (PPORD) Exemption: Microplastics used in PPORD (Product and Process Oriented Research and Development) activities up to 1 ton/year are exempt, applicable to both industrial sites and non-industrial locations such as hospitals and universities
3. Tightened “Embedded in Solid Matrix” Exemption Conditions: Now only applies to cases where intended duration of use is ≥1 year; short-term use (frequent matrix replacement) no longer enjoys exemption

Timeline:

• Pharmaceutical and PPORD use revisions: Retroactively effective from October 17, 2023
• “Embedded in solid matrix” exemption clarification: Effective June 22, 2028 (2-year adjustment period)

Affected Industries:

• ✅ Beneficiaries: Pharmaceutical industry, R&D institutions (reduced compliance costs, enhanced legal certainty)
• ⚠️ Restricted Industries: Electronic packaging, building materials, coatings, composite materials (temporary protective coatings, quick-release composites, short-term industrial molds, etc. no longer enjoy exemption)

Action Recommendations:

1. Immediate Action: Assess whether products rely on “embedded in solid matrix” exemption; identify applications with intended use <1 year
2. Before June 2028: Complete formulation substitution or adjustment to avoid compliance risks
3. Supply Chain Management: Notify downstream customers of exemption changes; update Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

🇨🇳 Policy 2: China GB 30981.1/.2-2025 Mandatory Implementation

Implementation Date: June 1, 2026

Standard Names:

• GB 30981.1-2025 “Limit of Hazardous Substances in Coatings – Part 1: Architectural Coatings”
• GB 30981.2-2025 “Limit of Hazardous Substances in Coatings – Part 2: Industrial Coatings”

Key Changes:

1. Replaces 7 Old Standards: Achieves full-category, full-chain hazardous substance control for architectural and industrial coatings
2. Significantly Tightened VOCs Limits: VOCs limit for interior wall flat coatings and primers reduced from 80g/L to 50g/L (nearly 40% reduction)
3. First Introduction of SVOC Control: Semi-volatile organic compounds limit ≤5g/L
4. New Auxiliary Material Controls:
   • Phthalates ≤0.1%
   • Lead ≤90mg/kg
   • Mercury ≤10mg/kg
   • Strict limits on benzene series sum, toluene, formaldehyde, etc.
5. Regulatory Spillover to Ink Industry: CTI Huace Testing has included “ink and cleaning agent products” in VOCs control detection scope

Affected Industries:

• Coating manufacturers, architectural coating enterprises, industrial coating enterprises
• Ink industry (gravure water-based ink, etc.)
• Wood products, flooring, building decoration industries

Action Recommendations:

1. Immediate Compliance: Standards are mandatory; non-compliant products cannot be sold
2. Formulation Upgrade: Water-soluble coatings, lead-free coatings, low-VOCs coatings become market necessities
3. Testing and Certification: Contact CTI Huace Testing and other institutions to complete product testing and obtain compliance certificates
4. Supply Chain Audit: Review raw material suppliers to ensure auxiliaries comply with new national standards

III. Comprehensive Action Checklist

IV. Information Sources

• EU Commission Official Journal: Regulation (EU) 2026/1168
• State Administration for Market Regulation: GB 30981.1-2025, GB 30981.2-2025
• Jiayu Testing, CTI Huace Testing, Nippon Paint and other industry sources

Report Generated: June 20, 2026 17:15 (UTC+8)

Next Monitoring Date: June 27, 2026