China: New GB standard for Personal Protective Equipment

 

China has published a new National Standard of the P.R.C., Requirements for toxic, harmful and restricted substance in personal protective equipment GB 31420—XXXX.

The new version of the standard will be mandatory.

In accordance with the standard:

The requirements for toxic, hazardous and limited substances in personal protective equipment should be to ensure the personal health and safety of consumers during their use.

The risk level of toxic and hazardous substances in personal protective equipment should be within the permissible risk range for the vast majority of consumers.

Toxic, hazardous and limited substances in personal protective equipment mainly come from raw materials and various chemical additives added during the production and processing process. Toxic and hazardous substances produced by other means should comply with relevant laws and regulations.

The raw materials selected by the manufacturer of personal protective equipment should meet the functional requirements of personal protective equipment and should not reduce the overall protective effect of personal protective equipment.

Personal protective equipment should not damage the hygiene and health of users. The materials used should not release any harmful substances such as toxic, carcinogenic, sensitizing, mutagenic, reproductive toxic, endocrine disrupting, corrosive or irritating in normal use.

The restricted substances are: Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, PBBs, PBDEs, DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP.  The respective limits are given in the standard.

The proposed date of adoption is to be determined and the proposed date of entry into force is 1 January 2027.

To find out more about product compliance for personal protective equipment, do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute.