On 23 April 2017, Shanghai Housing and Urban-Development Management Commission announced a prohibition on the use of solvent-based coatings for exterior walls and woodware in construction. It went into effect on 1 May 2018.
Apart from Shanghai, some other cities have also started to replace solvent-based coatings with water-based coatings in some industries. For example:
Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province
From 1 May 2018 onwards, Shenzhen has fully forbidden the use of solvent-based coatings and solvent-based adhesives. This is regulated by The Quantity Limit of Finished Product Furniture and Raw Material which took effect on 1 Jan 2017.
Taizhou announced the replacement of solvent-based products with water-based coatings, adhesives, and detergent in a number of industries before the end of 2017. The industries included printing and packaging industry, container and transportation industry, mechanical equipment, artificial board, furniture industry and shipbuilding industries.
In 2017, Nanjing government required more than 800 vehicle maintenance enterprises to upgrade solvent-based coatings to environmentally friendly coatings.
Huizhou City, Guangzhou Province
In the 13th Five-Year Plan for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction (the year 2016-2020), No solvent-based coatings or solvent-based adhesives shall be used in government-invested construction projects. Solvent-based coatings are also banned in exterior walls built by real estate.
Before 1 Oct 2018, Zhongshan prompt replacement of solvent-based coatings with water-based coatings in key industries, such as metal surface coating industry, printing industry, construction industry, and automobile industry.
From 1 Jan 2019 onwards, the whole vehicle maintenance industry will change solvent-based coatings to water-based coatings in painting work.
