China amends limits of VOC and migration of heavy metals of wood based furniture

Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China (SAC) issued a notification (G/TBT/N/ CHN/1094) to WTO concerning the national standard Limits of Volatile Organic Compounds and Migration of Heavy Metals of Wood Based Furniture on 22 July 2015. The standard will supersede the current GB18584-2001 Indoor Decorating and Refurbishing Materials—Limit of Harmful Substances of Wood Based Furniture.
 
Compared with GB18584-2001, the main technical requirements in the new standard are as follows:
--Revise the limit of formaldehyde emission and its test method;
--Add limits and test methods of benzene, methylbenzene, dimethylbenzene and TVOC;
--Revise test methods of element migration by referring to GB 6675.4-2014 Safety of Toys―Part 4: Migration of Certain Elements;
--Add Annex A—Calculation of Contour Volume of Wood Based Furniture
 
Limits of Formaldehyde, Benzene, Methylbenzene and TVOC in Wood Based Furniture
 

Item	Limit (mg/m3)
Formaldehyde emission	≤0.10
Benzene	≤0.11
Methylbenzene	≤0.20
Dimethylbenzene	≤0.20
TVOC	≤0.60

 
Limits of Migration of Heavy Metals in Wood Based Furniture

Element	Limit (mg/kg)
Lead	≤90
Cadmium	≤75
Chromium	≤60
Mercury	≤60

 
The standard will be approved 90 days since its issuing by secretariat of WTO and become effective six months after its approval.