China - Reduction of Limits of Hazardous Substances in Wallpaper Products

​China adopted the new restriction limits for hazardous substances in wallpaper products by amending the national standard GB 18585-2001.

The new standard GB 18585-2023 was published on November 27, 2023 with the following changes on the hazardous substance limits:
- Barium: from ≤ 1000 ppm to ≤ 500 ppm
- Vinyl chloride: from ≤ 1.0 ppm to ≤ 0.2 ppm
- Formaldehyde content: removed and changed to formaldehyde emission and the limit is set at ≤ 0.02 mg/m3

And added the following hazardous substances to the restriction table:
- DBP, BBP & DEHP: ≤ 1000 ppm (sum)
- DINP, DIDP & DNOP: ≤ 1000 ppm (sum)
- Total VOC emission: ≤ 0.60 mg/m3
- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP): < 0.15% or 1500 ppm

While the following limits for heavy metals remain unchanged:
- Cadmium: ≤ 25 ppm
- Chromium: ≤ 60 ppm
- Lead: ≤ 90 ppm
- Arsenic: ≤ 8 ppm
- Mercury: ≤ 20 ppm
- Selenium: ≤ 165 ppm
- Antimony: ≤ 20 ppm

The implementation date for the new standard is set at December 1, 2024. The current standard will also be superseded on the same day.​​​