Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) announced on 20 December 2024, that formaldehyde in paints will be banned under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) from 1 January 2026. The measure aims to protect public health by limiting exposure to formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and respiratory irritant.

Key Restrictions

• Interior Paints: The import, manufacture, and sale of interior paints containing ≥ 0.01% w/w formaldehyde will be prohibited.

• Outdoor/Industrial Paints: Outdoor or industrial use paints containing ≥ 0.01% w/w formaldehyde must comply with mandatory labelling requirements.

• Export Exemption: Paints manufactured or imported for re-export are exempt but require a Hazardous Substance Licence.

Compliance and Enforcement

Manufacturers, importers, and suppliers must ensure compliance by 1 January 2026 to avoid penalties under the Environmental Protection and Management Act. Companies are advised to transition to formaldehyde-free alternatives and update product formulations accordingly. Importers and manufacturers must provide test reports on request to demonstrate formaldehyde content below 0.01% w/w. These reports should be from accredited laboratories recognized under the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA).

HS Codes and TradeNet Applications

From 1 January 2026, traders will be required to use designated HS and product codes when submitting import and export permit applications via TradeNet. All applications will be subject to the NEA approval process.

Next Steps for Companies

To comply with the upcoming regulation, industry stakeholders should:

• Reformulate products to meet the new limits.

• Ensure proper labelling of applicable products.

• Work with accredited laboratories to verify compliance.

For more details, including labelling requirements (Annex A), accepted test methods (Annex B), and relevant HS and product codes (Annex C), please refer to the official NEA document.

On 21 November 2024, the two-year grace period for cosmetic products to comply with the updated ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) ended. The updates were introduced during the 36th ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) meeting and its related sessions in November 2022. Products that do not meet the updated standards must be withdrawn immediately. The amendments reflect the ASEAN region’s approach to aligning with global safety standards and protecting the health of consumers in its 10 member states.

Key Updates to the ACD

• Annex II – List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products

A consolidated list of 37 substances previously banned in the EU, has been added to Annex II of the ACD. These include entries from EU regulations (2019/831, 2019/1966, 2021/850, 2021/1902) that are not currently used in ASEAN countries. Specific compounds such as perboric acid, sodium perborate, boron compounds, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), and p-BMHCA have also been included in Annex II.

• Titanium Dioxide Regulation

Revised safety criteria for the use of titanium dioxide as a colouring agent (Annex IV) and as a UV filter (Annex VII) have been adopted as per EU standards.

• Salicylic Acid Regulation

New limits have been introduced for salicylic acid in the Restricted Substance List (Annexes III) and in the Preservatives list (Annex VI), used in body creams, lotions, and other specific applications.

Implications for Industry

Cosmetic manufacturers, traders, and distributors were granted a two-year grace period to reformulate, test and phase out non-compliant products. With the end of this period concluded, compliance is now mandatory, ensuring that products meet updated safety requirements.

Detailed guidelines for compliance can be found here.