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Editor's Note: This article was originally published in December 2024 to analyze the control measures for formaldehyde in paints, and was updated on 22 May 2025 to introduce the updates to the control circular.
On May 21, 2025, Singapore NEA updated the hazardous substances control circular issued on December 20 last year. According to the official from the Chemical Control and Management Department, the only change is to the test methods in Annex B of the circular. Details can be accessed here - Control of Formaldehyde in Paints (updated 21 May 25).
Previous article in 2024:
By circular issued on December 20, 2024, the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore announced new control measures for formaldehyde in paints. Effective 1 January 2026, these measures aim to limit the content of formaldehyde in interior paints* and to ensure proper labeling for outdoor and industrial paints**.
*Paints applied on interior surfaces such as internal walls and ceilings of buildings.
**Paints for industrial use refer to paints for industrial application, including but not limited to those conferring anti-fouling properties for marine vessels and anti-corrosion properties for metal structures and equipment.
Prohibition on Interior Paints
The NEA will prohibit the import, manufacture, and/or sale for local consumption of interior paints containing ≥ 0.01% weight in weight of formaldehyde in Singapore.
Importers and manufacturers of interior paints will be obligated to provide test reports upon request from the NEA. These reports must verify that the total in-can formaldehyde content is below the stipulated limit, and they should be prepared by laboratories accredited by recognized international bodies.
Labeling Requirements for Outdoor and Industrial Paints
Paints imported, manufactured, and/or sold for local consumption in Singapore for outdoor application or industrial use containing ≥ 0.01% weight in weight of formaldehyde will need to comply with the labelling requirements below:
The label must contain the following words clearly legible: “This paint contains formaldehyde. For application on outdoor areas or for industrial use only. Do not apply on indoor areas.”
The label must conform to the following dimensions:
where the capacity of the container does not exceed 3 litres — at least 52 × 74 millimetres;
where the capacity of the container exceeds 3 litres but does not exceed 50 litres — at least 74 × 105 millimetres;
where the capacity of the container exceeds 50 litres but does not exceed 500 litres — at least 105 × 148 millimetres;
where the capacity of the container exceeds 500 litres — at least 148 × 210 millimetres.
Exemptions
Paints imported or manufactured solely for export are exempted from the abovementioned control measures. However, companies importing or manufacturing interior paints that exceed the formaldehyde limit for export purposes will still require a HS Licence under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA).
A list of new Harmonized System (HS) Codes and Product Codes for paints containing formaldehyde is provided by the NEA (see Annex C in the circular). With effect of these controls, traders will also be required to use appropriate HS Codes and Product Codes when submitting TradeNet permit applications for the import and export of paints containing formaldehyde.
