Singapore's Tough Move! Complete Ban on High Formaldehyde Paints by 2025, Coating Companies Face Life-and-Death Challenge

Recently, Singapore issued G/TBT/N/SGP/72 notification through the WTO, planning to amend the Environmental Protection and Management Act to regulate formaldehyde in coatings as a harmful substance, mainly involving 11 types of paint and varnish with HS codes beginning with 3208, 3209 and 3210. The changes will take effect in January 2025 and will be implemented from January 2026.

The details include: 1. Singapore prohibits the import, manufacture and/or sale of interior paints equal to or exceeding 0.01% formaldehyde by weight. Importers and manufacturers must submit test reports to NEA that demonstrate that the amount of formaldehyde measured in the tank in each interior paint product is less than 0.01% by weight. Such test reports must be issued by an accredited laboratory. However, if such interior paint is imported or manufactured for export or re-export, this requirement may be waived, and in this case, the company will need to apply for a Hazardous Substances (HS) license from NEA. 2. Outdoor or industrial coatings imported, manufactured and/or sold that contain formaldehyde equal to or greater than 0.01% by weight must comply with the relevant labeling requirements. The labeling requirements do not apply to paints imported or manufactured for export or re-export purposes. Coating enterprises should understand in detail the specific requirements of the new regulations on coating products, including the restriction standards of harmful substances, packaging requirements, etc., to ensure that products comply with the provisions of the exporting country. In the process of coating export, enterprises need to prepare a series of documents and documents, such as invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, etc.

In addition, for the particularity of coating products, enterprises also need to provide MSDS (chemical safety instructions) and hazardous package certificate (dangerous goods transportation packaging certificate) and other documents. These documents are an important basis for the export declaration of paint products, and enterprises need to prepare and ensure their accuracy in advance. Coating export enterprises need to strengthen the quality testing of products to ensure that products meet international quality standards. Before export, enterprises should entrust a qualified third-party testing agency to conduct a comprehensive test on the product to ensure that the content of harmful substances in the product meets the new regulations.

At the same time, enterprises should also establish a sound quality management system to improve the level of product quality control. As dangerous goods, coatings require special measures to ensure safety during transportation. Enterprises should choose the appropriate mode of transportation and packaging to ensure that the paint is not damaged or leaked during transportation. At the same time, enterprises should also maintain good communication with freight forwarders and shipping companies to ensure the accuracy and speed of customs clearance procedures.

The Singapore notification plan to amend the "Environmental Protection and Management Law" has put forward new challenges and requirements for coating export enterprises. However, it is also an important opportunity for enterprises to improve product quality and enhance international competitiveness. Enterprises should pay close attention to changes in international environmental regulations, strengthen internal management and quality control, and ensure that products meet international standards. Only in this way can we be invincible in the fierce international market competition.