China

China Proposes Revised Limits For Industrial Cleaning Agents

China’s draft industrial-cleaner standard sets a combined 0.01% limit for four chlorinated solvents. WTO comments close on 25 November 2026.

Foresight

28 October 20262 min readAI-drafted, expert reviewed

China has notified the World Trade Organization of a proposed replacement for industrial-cleaner standard GB 38508–2020. Notification G/TBT/N/CHN/2372, dated 26 October 2026, covers limits, testing and packaging markings for cleaning agents containing volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Comments close on 25 November 2026. WTO notification.

Products And Exclusions

The draft applies to cleaners produced and used in industrial and service activities. It excludes personal-cleaning detergents and cleaners for aerospace, nuclear, military and semiconductor manufacturing, including integrated circuits. Draft section 1.

Its definition covers ready-to-use liquid chemicals or preparations used to remove dirt from equipment, facilities or products. A product meeting that definition remains a cleaning agent even if its name does not describe it as one. Section 3.1.

Proposed Composition Limits

Table 1 sets a combined limit of 0.01% for dichloromethane, chloroform, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene across water-based, semi-water-based and organic-solvent cleaners. It lists VOC limits of 50, 300 and 900 grams per litre, respectively. Section 5.1, Table 1.

The draft's foreword identifies revisions to specified solvent limits, scope, sampling, test-liquid preparation, VOC measurement and packaging markings compared with the 2020 edition. The listed VOC ceilings should not all be read as newly reduced limits. Foreword.

Markings And Proposed Timing

Packaging markings would identify the cleaner category, water content where applicable and VOC content in grams per litre. Where substances are deducted in the VOC calculation, their names, contents and test methods must also be stated. Water-dilution ratios belong on the smallest package or in the instructions. Sections 7.1–7.2.

The WTO notification leaves the adoption date undetermined and proposes entry into force 12 months after approval. The draft is not a final standard and does not set a calendar implementation date. Notification item 9.

Official source

WTO notification G/TBT/N/CHN/2372

eping.wto.org

Topics

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Questions about this change

Which cleaners are excluded from China’s proposed replacement for GB 38508–2020?

The draft excludes personal-cleaning detergents and cleaning agents used in aerospace, nuclear, military and semiconductor manufacturing, including integrated circuits. Its scope otherwise concerns VOC-containing cleaners produced and used in industrial and service activities.

What chlorinated-solvent limit does China’s draft GB 38508 set for industrial cleaners?

Table 1 proposes a combined 0.01% ceiling for dichloromethane, chloroform, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene across the three cleaner categories. This is a draft requirement. WTO comments close on 25 November 2026, and proposed entry into force is 12 months after approval.