China plans to cut down VOCs in key industries

On 8 July 2016, Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and Ministry of Finance have printed and issued a notification on cutting down volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in key industries including petroleum refining and chemicals, coatings, inks, adhesives, pesticides, automobiles, packaging and printing, rubber products, synthetic leather, furniture and shoes.
 
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air, a trait known as volatility. But some VOCs are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment.
 
The main target for the plan is that the emission of VOCs will be reduced by more than 3.3 million tons by 2018 compared with that in 2015, including a cut of more than 20% in the use of solvents and auxiliaries such as benzene, toluene, xylene, DMF and the percentages for green products (with low concentration or free from VOCs) achieving more than 79%, 60%, 70%, 85% and 40% in pesticides, coatings, inks, adhesives, pesticides and tyres separately.
 
Competent departments at all levels will intensify support to the cut-down campaign on VOCs in these key industries. The overall thinking for the campaign lies in a comprehensive prevention and treatment which cuts down the use from sources and controls the procedures by technological advance.
 
C&K Testing advises related companies to pay due attention in case any new requirements of final products to control the contents of VOCs.

【中文版】

Further information
VOCs Cut-down Campaign (in Chinese)