China releases standards for plastic shopping bags and degradable disposable tableware 
On November 9,2020, China State Administration for Market Regulation released two revised national standards “Plastic Shopping Bags” (GB/T 21661-2020) and “General Requirement of Degradable Disposable Tableware” (GB/T 18006.3-2020). Both of them are national standards, and have come into force on December 31, 2020.
GB/T 21661-2020 “Plastic Shopping Bags” (Replacement for GB/T 21661-2008)
Application Scope
This standard defines the terms, as well the definitions, classifications, requirements, test methods, inspection rules, packaging, packaging labels, transportations and storage of plastic shopping bags.
This standard is applied to films made mainly from plastic resin, and non-degradable plastic shopping bags made though bags making processes, such as heat sealing or bonding. It also applied to non-degradable plastic shopping bags made form composite materials of plastic and other materials.
This standard is not applied to plastic bags which used only for packaging, without the intention to use for carrying, such as plastic roll bags etc. In addition, it’s also not applied to starch-based shopping bags and biodegradable shopping bags.
GB/T 18006.3-2020 “General Requirement of Degradable Disposable Tableware” (Replacement for GB/T 1806.1-2009) [Partial]
Application Scope
This standard defines the terms, as well the definitions, classifications, technical requirements, test methods, inspection rules, packaging labels, packaging, transportations and storage of degradable disposable tableware.
This standard is applied to degradable disposable tableware that are made from raw materials such as resin, starch, plant fiber and etc. And it is also applied to degradable disposable tableware, whose food contact layer is covered, coated or compounded with biodegradable plastic.
It is not applied to paper tableware, such as paper cup, paper bowl and etc.
The original text of the above article can be viewed from the URL below (Simplified Chinese).
http://www.gb688.cn/bzgk/gb/nd?no=1301
