China’s GB 30981-2025 standard took effect on June 1, 2026. For overseas buyers, this is not just another document number. It is a useful way to understand how Chinese coating manufacturers talk about harmful substances, VOC control, product categories, and technical documentation.
The short version is simple: GB 30981-2025 helps define what should be controlled in coating products sold under the Chinese standard system. It does not replace your own country’s import laws, project specifications, or performance standards.
What Is GB 30981-2025?
GB 30981-2025 is China’s national standard for the limit of harmful substances in coatings. It has two parts:
- GB 30981.1-2025 covers architectural coatings.
- GB 30981.2-2025 covers industrial coatings.
The standard was issued on May 30, 2025 and became effective on June 1, 2026.
For buyers, the important point is the scope. GB 30981 is mainly about harmful-substance limits. Depending on the product category, it may involve VOC, SVOC, benzene series, formaldehyde, heavy metals, APEO, PAH, biocides, free diisocyanates, asbestos in certain cases, and other controlled substances.
That makes it useful for procurement. It helps a buyer ask more precise questions than “Is this paint environmentally friendly?”
Part 1: Architectural Coatings
GB 30981.1-2025 applies to architectural coatings and related auxiliary materials. In practical terms, it covers wall coatings, floor coatings, and supporting materials used with these coating systems.
The standard separates architectural products into categories such as waterborne wall coatings, waterborne floor coatings, solvent-borne floor coatings, solvent-free floor coatings, and auxiliary materials.
This matters because “architectural paint” is not one technical category. An interior wall coating, exterior textured coating, floor coating, color paste, thinner, curing agent, or putty may be controlled differently.
One practical point is worth noting: GB 30981.1-2025 states that solvent-borne architectural wall coatings should not be used for on-site application from the implementation date. If your project is asking for low-odor or low-emission building coatings, discuss waterborne and other suitable options early.
Part 2: Industrial Coatings
GB 30981.2-2025 applies to industrial coatings and auxiliary materials used on substrates such as wood, metal, plastic, concrete, composite materials, glass, and ceramics. It covers both on-site coating and factory coating.
Its scope is broad. It includes protective coatings for buildings and structures, metal anti-corrosion coatings, concrete protective coatings, marine coatings, vehicle coatings, rail vehicle coatings, road traffic coatings, wood coatings, toy coatings, powder coatings, radiation-curing coatings, and auxiliary materials.
The standard also uses type codes that are useful when reading a Chinese product document:
- W type: water-borne coatings;
- S type: solvent-borne coatings;
- F type: solvent-free coatings;
- R type: radiation-curing coatings;
- P type: powder coatings;
- A type: accessory materials.
This helps avoid a common mistake. Two coatings can have similar names but different environmental and application profiles. An anti-corrosion primer, for example, may be waterborne, solvent-borne, solvent-free, or zinc-rich. Each version needs its own TDS, SDS, mixing ratio, and harmful-substance review.
GB Standard, Enterprise Standard, and International Standards
Many buyers ask whether a Chinese GB standard is the same as ISO, ASTM, EN, or a local regulation in the destination country. It is not. These systems may overlap in purpose, but they are not interchangeable.
A GB standard is a Chinese national standard. Some GB standards are mandatory. GB 30981-2025 is used to control harmful substances in coatings under China’s standard system.
An enterprise standard is a company-level standard. A coating manufacturer may use enterprise standards to control product formulas, performance levels, application parameters, project customization, or internal quality requirements. But an enterprise standard cannot be used to avoid an applicable mandatory national standard.
International and destination-market standards may measure different things. ISO 12944 is commonly used for corrosion protection of steel structures. ASTM or EN methods may be used for specific tests. Local rules may control chemical substances, labeling, packaging, transport, workplace exposure, or import approvals.
For export purchasing, separate the questions:
- What Chinese GB requirements apply to this coating?
- What Qilu product or enterprise standard controls the product specification?
- What project performance standard is required, such as corrosion class, dry film thickness, salt spray, weathering, adhesion, or abrasion resistance?
- What destination-market documents or certifications does the importer need?
What This Means for Qilu as a Manufacturer
For Qilu, GB 30981-2025 strengthens a discipline that already matters in export supply: the product name alone is not enough.
A coating should be discussed by product category, resin type, application field, coating system, construction ratio, TDS/SDS, and the buyer’s target market.
For standard products, Qilu can communicate the relevant Chinese GB framework and provide current technical documents for review. For project-specific or OEM supply, Qilu can discuss enterprise-standard control, customized performance targets, packaging, color, coating system design, and test requirements.
What This Means for Overseas Buyers
GB 30981-2025 gives overseas buyers a better way to ask questions. Instead of asking only “Is this paint good quality?”, ask for a technical package.
Before purchasing, request:
- current TDS and SDS;
- coating type and product category under the applicable GB framework;
- VOC or SVOC information where relevant;
- mixing ratio and pot life for two-component products;
- recommended substrate preparation and dry film thickness;
- test report or harmful-substance declaration when the project requires it;
- confirmation of packaging, shelf life, transport classification, and destination-market document needs.
What GB 30981 Does Not Decide
GB 30981-2025 is important, but it should not be overused. It does not automatically prove that a coating meets every foreign regulation. It does not replace your local import law, building code, environmental rule, or project specification.
It also does not by itself define corrosion life, surface preparation grade, coating system thickness, outdoor durability, fire rating, food-contact suitability, or customs classification.
A Practical Way to Buy from China
For a normal export inquiry, a useful technical request looks like this:
“Please recommend a coating system for this substrate and environment. Confirm the relevant Chinese GB standard category, provide current TDS and SDS, state the VOC or harmful-substance information available, and check whether the product can be supplied against our project or destination-market requirements.”
This avoids confusion. It lets the manufacturer select the right product family, and it lets the buyer compare Chinese GB information with local requirements.
Qilu will publish more category-specific notes on GB 30981.1 and GB 30981.2, including wall coatings, floor coatings, industrial anti-corrosion coatings, road traffic coatings, auxiliary materials, VOC/SVOC indicators, and controlled substances. This page will remain the general buyer introduction.
For current product data, request the latest Qilu TDS/SDS and project review.