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The new version of the GB 30981 series of standards was officially released on May 30, 2025, and has been formally implemented on June 1, 2026. The implementation of these new standards will have a profound impact on the coatings industry.

On June 3, 2026, ECHA released a briefing on the SEAC consultation for the PFAS restriction proposal, receiving 3,511 comments within a 60-day period.

On 30 April 2026, the Official Journal of the European Union published Decision (EU) 2026/878. The decision clearly states that the European Union, on behalf of its Member States, will submit a proposal to the Secretariat of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") to recommend the listing of bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (abbreviated as TBPH) in Annex A (Elimination) of the Convention.

On March 31, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) jointly issued the new mandatory national standard GB 28480-2026 "Jewelry - Safety Technical Requirements", replacing GB 28480-2012 "Ornaments - Limitation of Hazardous Elements", which has been in force for nearly 14 years. The new standard will take effect on April 1, 2027, with a 12-month transition period.

GB 4806.16-2025 National Food Safety Standard – Silicone Rubber Materials and Articles for Food Contact was issued in September 2025 and will be enforced mandatorily in September 2026. The standard introduces a mandatory limit for volatile organic compounds (VOC/volatile matter), directly targeting residual solvents, low-molecular-weight siloxanes, off-odors, and safety risks. This marks a critical gateway for compliance and quality upgrading of food-contact silicone materials.

RAPEX, as the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products, has issued multiple notification cases for fluorinated compounds such as PFAS, PFOA and PFCAs, covering clothing, textiles, outdoor equipment and other product categories. These notifications reflect the EU's strict regulatory requirements and high-intensity law enforcement for PFAS residues in consumer products, and also bring clear compliance challenges to global manufacturers, exporters and cross-border e-commerce platforms.

China organized the drafting of amendment drafts (soliciting comments) for two mandatory national standards.

On March 30, 2026, the European Commission released the guidance document and accompanying Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the PPWR.

On January 29, 2026, the European Commission published Directive (EU) 2026/192, amending the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC to permit the use of cobalt in three specific applications within toys.

The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) requires all art materials to be evaluated for chronic health hazards. Materials posing such risks must have appropriate warning labels. This law applies to all art materials, not just those for children. Under U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations (16 CFR §1500.14(b)(8)), art materials must undergo LHAMA assessment and labeling in accordance with ASTM D4236.