China revises national standard for harmful substances in architectural coatings

On May 30, 2025, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a revised mandatory national standard, titled Limit of Harmful Substances of Coatings—Part 1: Architectural Coatings (GB 30981.1-2025). The regulation will take effect on June 1, 2026, replacing two previous standards: GB 18582-2020 (for wall coatings) and GB 38468-2019 (for interior floor coatings).

The updated standard expands the scope of regulated substances to include semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and sets new limits for harmful substances found in accessory materials used with architectural coatings. It also introduces stricter controls on biocides, including arsenic and methylisothiazolinone (MIT), and requires manufacturers to disclose all biocides added to products.