[Policy Monitor] July 8, 2026 — New Materials Industry

Report Date: July 8, 2026 (Wednesday)
Policy Areas: China GB Standards / US EPA TSCA / UK REACH / EU Customs
Overall Risk Level: ★★★ Medium-High (Key policies took effect this week)

1. Key Policy Updates This Week

China: Two Mandatory EV Safety Standards Take Effect (July 1, 2026)

Standards:

• GB 38031-2025 — Safety Requirements for Traction Batteries in Electric Vehicles
• GB 18384-2025 — Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicles

Major Changes:

• Thermal Runaway Standard Upgraded: Shifted from “fire/explosion warning 5 minutes in advance” to “no fire, no explosion”, with mandatory smoke toxicity controls
• New Bottom Impact Test: Evaluates battery protection against undercarriage strikes
• New Fast-Charging Cycle Safety Test: 300 fast-charge cycles followed by external short-circuit test, requiring no fire or explosion
• Enhanced Crush Test: Additional insulation resistance pass/fail criteria added
• First-time mandate for physical emergency power-off (“kill switch”) replacing software-only controls

Compliance Timeline:

• New vehicle models: Mandatory from July 1, 2026
• Existing on-sale models: Transition period until July 1, 2027

Impact on New Materials Supply Chain

United States: EPA TSCA Chemical Review Continues

Recent Highlights (June 2026):

• Jun 23: EPA seeks additional information on legacy uses and disposal of Asbestos
• Jun 17: EPA releases draft technical support documents for peer review and public comment on 5 chemicals under TSCA risk evaluation
• Jun 12: EPA releases draft risk evaluation for TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol A) flame retardant — entering public comment period
• Jun 12: EPA releases final SACC report on D4 (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane) risk evaluation
• Jul 1: EPA announces new membership for TSCA Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC)

Key Watch: TBBPA
TBBPA is the world’s most widely used brominated flame retardant, applied in electronics, plastics, and textiles. If EPA’s risk evaluation concludes unreasonable risk, it may trigger TSCA risk management actions including use restrictions or mandatory substitution.

Recommendations for Exporters:

• Companies using TBBPA in products shipped to the US should closely monitor the evaluation progress
• Build technical capability for TBBPA-free alternative flame retardants
• Track the public comment window for EPA’s final risk evaluation (expected Q3 2026)

United Kingdom: UK REACH Adds 15 New SVHCs to Candidate List

Update: In June 2026, the UK HSE officially added 15 substances to the UK REACH SVHC Candidate List.

Compliance Obligations:

• Mixtures/articles containing these substances must fulfill notification obligations (concentration greater than 0.1% w/w AND annual supply greater than 1 tonne)
• Articles with SVHC content greater than 0.1% must provide safety information to recipients
• Consumers have the right to request relevant information from suppliers

European Union: EU Customs Duty Exemption Abolished (Effective July 1, 2026)

From July 1, 2026, the EU has eliminated duty-free treatment for B2C shipments valued at 150 EUR or less:

• B2C goods: 3 EUR duty per tariff line item
• B2B goods: Subject to ad valorem duties

Impact on Chinese Exporters: Increased costs for low-value e-commerce parcels and higher compliance requirements. It is recommended to reassess FOB pricing structures and logistics costs in advance.

2. Action Recommendations

3. Baseline Reference Data

• EU REACH SVHC Candidate List: 241 substances (as of June 2026)
• UK REACH SVHC Candidate List: approximately 256 substances (updated June 2026, +15)
• US TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory: approximately 86,000+ substances
• China mandatory GB standards for new energy materials: GB 38031, GB 18384, GB 31241

Auto-generated by Market Intelligence Officer | Sources: EPA.gov, CIRS Group, MIIT, National Standards Information Platform