China updates hazardous substance limits for carpets and PVC flooring

China has issued a mandatory national standard setting updated emission and content limits on hazardous substances in carpets, carpet underlays and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring, reflecting an increased focus on substances released into indoor air from finished products.

The standard (GB 18586-2026: Indoor decorating and refurbishing materials – Limitations of harmful substances from carpets, carpet underlays, and polyvinyl chloride flooring) removes legacy limits for soluble heavy metals and VOCs, as well as the limit requirements for adhesives used in carpet installation. It also removes the distinction between environmentally friendly and general products, applying a uniform set of requirements across all product categories.

The standard was published on 31 March and is set to be implemented on 1 October 2027. It consolidates two earlier standards (GB 18587-2001 and GB 18586-2001) into one, the first revision since their introduction in 2001.

Products manufactured or imported before the implementation date must comply with the new requirements from the 13th month after the standard enters into force.

Carpets and carpet underlays (also known as paddings)

Release limits are set as area-specific emission rates (SERAs), expressed in µg/(m²/h), representing emissions per unit area over time, as follows:

PVC flooring

Limits for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring distinguish between substance content (mg/kg) and emissions, expressed as release rates over a defined area and time, with controls set for monomers, heavy metals, phthalates (plasticisers), and, where applicable, flame retardants (PBBs and PBDEs), as follows:

The competent authority for GB 18586-2026 is the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The standard was jointly issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC).