Ref. No.: 2006/385 19 December 2006
MEMORANDUM TO MEMBERS OF GROUPS 1, 16 AND 20
Proposed Air Pollution (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation
In order to reduce emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC), one of the
major sources of air pollutants in Hong Kong, the Government has recently proposed
the Air Pollution (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation to tighten control over
products that emit VOC in their use. Under the Regulation, architectural paints,
printing inks and six categories of consumer products will be subject to regulation.
Below are the key provisions of the Regulation (its full text can be found at the
following website: ):
1. Manufacture or importation of architectural paints with a VOC content above the
prescribed limits shall be prohibited in phases from 1 January 2008 (see Annex I
for details);
2. Before the VOC limits come into effect, architectural paints that cannot comply
with the future prescribed limits must bear a warning label;
3. All architectural paints manufactured or imported after 1 April 2007 must display
information on VOC and be notified to the authority;
4. Manufacture or importation of printing inks with a VOC content above the
prescribed limits shall be prohibited in phases from 1 April 2007 (see Annex II
for details);
5. Manufacture or importation of six categories of consumer products with a VOC
content above the prescribed limits shall be prohibited in phases from 1 April
2007 (see Annex III for details);
6. Manufacturers or importers of the regulated products shall submit a report to the
authority annually on the sales volume of the regulated products in the preceding
year; and
7. With effect from 1 January 2009, owners of lithographic heatset web printing
machines shall have certified emission control devices installed on their machines
to capture VOC from printing process.
The Regulation imposes liabilities on importers and manufacturers who control
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the ultimate supplies of regulated products. Products that are already in the market
by the time the relevant provisions come into force, as well as products that are bound
for export or in transit, will be exempted from the Regulation.
Advice Sought
A Subcommittee of the Legislative Council scrutinising the Regulation is inviting
our views. Members who have any comments on the Regulation are invited to
forward them to the FHKI (Fax No.: 2721 3494 or e-mail: anna.thung@fhki.org.hk)
by 29 December 2006 for collation of a submission to the Legislative Council. For
enquiries, please contact Anna Thung at 2732 5155.
Policy, Research and Communications Division
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ANNEX I
Prohibition on manufacture and import: regulated paints
1. From 1 January 2008, no person shall manufacture in Hong Kong or import into
Hong Kong the following paints with a VOC content exceeding the respective
maximum limit:
Maximum
VOC Limit
Paints
(grams per litre
of coating)
1. Aluminum roof coatings 250
2. Below-ground wood preservatives 350
3. Bond breakers 350
4. Clear brushing lacquers 650
5. Clear wood finishes (sanding sealers) 150
6. Concrete-curing compounds 350
7. Dry-fog coatings 400
8. Fire-proofing exterior coatings 350
9. Graphic arts (sign) coatings 500
10. Interior stains 250
11. Magnesite cement coatings 450
12. Mastic coatings 300
13. Other architectural coatings 250
14. Pigmented lacquers 275
15. Recycled coatings 250
16. Roof coatings (exposed) 50
17. Roof coatings (non-exposed) 250
18. Shellacs (clear) 730
19. Shellacs (pigmented) 550
20. Specialty primers 350
21. Stains 100
22. Swimming pool repair coatings 340
23. Swimming pool coatings (others) 340
24. Waterproofing concrete or masonry sealers 400
25. Wood preservatives (others) 350
2. From 1 January 2009, no person shall manufacture in Hong Kong or import into
Hong Kong the following paints with a VOC content exceeding the respective
maximum limit:
1
Maximum
VOC Limit
Paints
(grams per litre
of coating)
1. Fire-retardant coatings (clear) 650
2. Flat coatings 50
3. Granite look-alike coatings or textured undercoaters 100
4. Japans or faux finishing coatings 350
5. Multi-colour coatings 250
6. Non-flat coatings 150
7. Roof primers (bituminous) 350
3. From 1 January 2010, no person shall manufacture in Hong Kong or import into
Hong Kong the following paints with a VOC content exceeding the respective
maximum limit:
Maximum
VOC Limit
Paints
(grams per litre
of coating)
1. Clear wood finishes (lacquers) 550
2. Clear wood finishes (varnishes) 150
3. Extreme high-gloss coatings for metal 420
4. Fire-retardant coatings (pigmented) 350
5. Floor coatings 250
6. High-temperature industrial maintenance coatings 420
7. Industrial maintenance coatings 250
8. Metallic pigmented coatings 500
9. Pre-treatment coatings for metal 420
10. Pre-treatment wash primers 420
11. Primers, sealers and undercoaters 200
12. Quick-dry enamels 250
13. Quick-dry primers, sealers and undercoaters 200
14. Rust preventative coatings 400
15. Superior durability solvent-borne coatings for metal 420
16. Traffic coatings 150
17. Waterproofing sealers 250
18. Zinc-rich industrial maintenance primers 250
19. Low solids coatings 120
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ANNEX II
Prohibition on manufacture and import: regulated printing inks
1. From 1 April 2007, no person shall manufacture in Hong Kong or import into
Hong Kong the following printing inks with a VOC content exceeding the
respective maximum limit:
Maximum
VOC Limit
Printing Ink
(grams per litre
of printing ink)
1. Flexographic fluorescent ink 300
2. Flexographic ink non-porous substrate 300
3. Flexographic ink porous substrate 225
4. Letterpress ink 300
5. Lithographic ink (except heatset ink) 300
2. From 1 January 2009, no person shall manufacture in Hong Kong or import into
Hong Kong the following printing ink with a VOC content exceeding the
maximum limit:
Maximum
VOC Limit
Printing Ink
(grams per litre
of printing ink)
1. Gravure ink 300
2. Screen printing ink 400
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ANNEX II
Prohibition on manufacture and import: regulated consumer products
1. During the period between 1 April 2007 and 31 December 2008, no person shall
manufacture in Hong Kong or import into Hong Kong the following consumer
product with a VOC content exceeding the maximum limit:
Maximum
VOC Limit
Consumer Product
(per cent by
weight)
1. Hairspray 80
2. From 1 January 2008, no person shall manufacture in Hong Kong or import into
Hong Kong the following consumer products with a VOC content exceeding the
respective maximum limit:
Maximum
VOC Limit
Consumer Product
(per cent by
weight)
1. Double phase aerosol air freshener 25
2. Dual purpose aerosol air freshener and disinfectant 60
3. Single phase aerosol air freshener 30
4. Floor wax stripper for heavy build-up of polish 12
5. Floor wax stripper for light or medium build-up of polish 3
6. Multi-purpose lubricant, not in solid or semi-solid form 50
7. Aerosol lawn and garden insecticide 20
8. Flea and tick insecticide 25
9. Insecticide fogger 45
3. From 1 January 2009, no person shall manufacture in Hong Kong or import into
Hong Kong the following consumer products with a VOC content exceeding the
respective maximum limit:
1
Maximum
VOC Limit
Consumer Product
(per cent by
weight)
1. Aerosol insect repellent 65
2. Air freshener in the form of liquid or pump spray 18
3. Air freshener in the form of solid or gel 3
4. Hairspray 55
5. Aerosol crawling bug insecticide 15
6. Aerosol flying bug insecticide 25
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