China: VOC limits for vehicle paints and varnishes in Macao
Macao has published Chief Executive’s Decision No. 67/2023 which prohibits imports and transhipment of oil-base paints and varnishes used for vehicle repairs that exceed volatile organic compounds (VOC) content limits to the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Oil paints and varnishes for vehicle repair, the content of volatile organic compounds in the state of construction exceeds the following limit values:
(a) Primer, 580 g/liter
(b) Undercoat, 560 g/liter
(c) Base coat (including effect pigment paint and solid color enamel), 770 g/liter
(d) Natural color finish, 580 g/liter
(e) Varnish, 630 g/liter
The method for testing the volatile organic compound content of said goods adopts the national standard of the People’s Republic of China, GB/T 23985 “Paints and varnishes – Determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) content – Difference method”, or the technically equivalent international standard, ISO 11890-1 — Paints and varnishes — Determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) content — Part 1: Difference method.
The provisions of the Decision do not apply to goods with a special functional coating provided for in the standard of the People’s Republic of China, GB 24409-2020 “Limit of Harmful Substances in Vehicle Coatings”.
To find out more about vehicle regulations in China, please contact the Institute for Global Automotive Regulatory Research directly.