China has introduced a new national standard covering the use and
control of restricted substances in consumer products.
Issued as part of the Standardization Administration of China’s
No. 26 announcement in 2020, GB/T 39498-2020 – Guidelines for the use and control of key chemical substances
in consumer products – came into effect on June 1, 2021.
The standard’s general principle is to control the risk level
associated with key chemical substances in order to protect consumer health and
safety by ensuring they remain within set tolerable risk ranges.
Chemicals covered by the standard include:
- Heavy metals
- Organotin compounds
- Formaldehyde
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Bisphenol A
- Halogenated solvents
- Aniline
- Alkylphenols & alkylphenol ethoxylates (APs & APEOs)
- Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
- Asbestos
- Chlorinated paraffins
- Phthalates
- Flame retardants
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Dimethylfumarate (DMFu)
- N-nitrosamine
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Manufacturers of
clothing and footwear are now advised to ensure their products conform to the
latest standards being enforced in China.
SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40
state-of-the-art laboratories, including 10 in China, specializing in testing
of apparel, footwear, and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from
multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive
range of physical, chemical, and functional testing services for components,
materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality,
performance, and compliance with international, industrial, and regulatory
standards worldwide. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services.
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For further information contact:
Louann Spirito
Consumer and Retail – Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
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