WTO Notifies Members on Nine Chinese National VOCs Management Standards

In August 2018, China initiated the Three-year Action Plan on Defending Blue Sky ^[1], in which the formulation of the standards to control the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was promoted as a priority target in 2019. Several standards have been released this year, such as the Technical Requirement for Low VOC Content Coatings Product (Draft) ^[2], the Standard for Fugitive Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds, the Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Pharmaceutical Industry, and the Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Paint, Ink and Adhesive Industry. (Chemlinked News Ⅰ ^[3]) 

On 16th October, WTO released notifications to seek comments on nine national standards of China for VOCs management, which are shown below: 

• Limit standard for volatile organic compounds content in cleaning agents

• Limit of volatile organic compound content in adhesives

• Limits of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in printing ink

• Limit of harmful substances of marine coatings

• Limit of harmful substances of interior floor coatings

• Limit of harmful substances of vehicle coatings

• Limit of harmful substances of woodenware coatings

• Limit of harmful substances of architectural wall coatings

• Limit of harmful substances of industrial protective coatings

All standards have passed one round domestic comments and been amended, and they are scheduled to take effect on 1st July 2020 or 1st December 2020. (Chemlinked News Ⅱ ^[4], Ⅲ ^[5]) On 13th November, China MIIT starts a new round of domestic comments collection ^[6] for the later 6 standards, which will last to 12th December. (Updated on Nov. 15) 

General speaking, these standards set the limits of total VOC contents and special volatile hazardous substances in different products. The test methods and calculation methods are also detailed in the standards, as well as the special requirements such as exempted substances and prohibited substances. According to the three-year plan, more standards on VOC management in key industries such as the pesticide industry, household glass industry and the foundry industry will be formulated. Once these nine standards are approved, ChemLinked will publish a more detailed analysis.