The mandatory standard for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in adhesives, "Limits of volatile organic compounds in adhesives", was released on March 4, 2020. The standard code is GB 33372-2020, replacing the original recommended standard GB/T 33372- 2016; planned to be implemented on December 1 of the same year. Below are excerpts from its contents.

"……1 Scope
This standard specifies the limit requirements, test methods, inspection rules and packaging marks for the content of volatile organic compounds (hereinafter referred to as VOCs) in adhesives under specified conditions.
This standard applies to the limitation of the content of volatile organic compounds in solvent-based, water-based and bulk-based adhesives.
This standard does not apply to:
- Adhesives used as intermediates or as raw materials for production that have not entered the circulation field;
- adhesives used for testing or evaluation in any research and development, quality assurance or analytical laboratory;
——Urea-formaldehyde, phenolic, melamine-formaldehyde adhesives;
——Special functional surface treatment agent applied when materials are bonded.

...3 Terms and Definitions
...3.2 solvent-based adhesive
An adhesive with volatile organic solvent as the main dispersion medium.
3.3 water-based adhesive water-based adhesive
Adhesive with water as the main dispersion medium.
3.4 Bulk adhesive bulk adhesive
Adhesives with dispersing medium content within 5% of the total.

……5 VOC content limit
5.2 VOC content limit of solvent-based adhesives
The VOC content limit of solvent-based adhesives should meet the requirements in Table 1.
Table 1 VOC content limit of solvent-based adhesives
Application area Limit value≤/(g/L)
Neoprene Rubber Styrene-Butadiene Styrene Block Copolymer Rubber Polyurethane Acrylate Other
Architecture 650 550 550 500 500 50 0
Interior decoration 600 , 500 , 500 , 450
Shoes and Bags 600 , 500 , 500 , , 400 , 400 , 400
Woodworking and Furniture 600 500 500 400 400 510 400
Assembly 600 550 550 250 250 50 2
Packaging 600 500 500 500 400 510 50 0
Special 850a 850a — — 7 0 0 0
other 600 500 500 500 250 250 250
a For on-site emergency repair.
b Heavy-duty anti-corrosion dedicated.
c Hot vulcanized adhesive for shock absorption of automobile bridges.

5.3 VOC content limit of water-based adhesives
The VOC content limit of water-based adhesives should meet the requirements in Table 2.
Table 2 VOC content limit of water-based adhesives
Application area Limit value≤/(g/L)
   
Building 100 100 100 150 100 50 50 0 0 100
Interior Decoration 50 50 50 100 50 50 50 50 50 50
Shoes and Bags 50   — 150 50 50 50 50 100 100
Woodworking and Furniture 100   — 100 50 50 50 50 50 50
Transportation 50     — 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
Assembly 100   —   100 50 50 50 50 50
Packaging 50     — 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
Other 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 0 5 50

5.4 VOC content limit of bulk adhesives
The VOC content limit of bulk adhesive is shown in Table 3.
Table 3 Limits of VOC content in bulk adhesives
Application area Limit value≤/(g/kg)
Silicone MS Polyurethane Polysulfide Acrylate Epoxy α-Cyanoacrylic Thermoplastic Other
Architecture 100 100 50 50 50 — 100 20 50 50
Interior Decoration 100 50 50 50 50 — 50 20 20 50 50
Shoes and Bags --- 50 50 50 --- --- 20 50 50
Hygiene, Apparel and Fiber Processing - 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
Paper Processing and Bookbinding - 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
Transportation 100 100 50 50 50 200 100 20 20 50 50
Assembly 100 100 50 50 50 200 100 20 50 50
Packing 100 50 50 50 — — — — — — — 50 50
other 100 50 50 50 50 50 200 50 0 0 5 50
Note 1: MS refers to the adhesive with silane-modified polymer as the main material.
Note 2: Thermoplastic refers to thermoplastic polyolefin or thermoplastic rubber.

6 Test methods..."

Source: China Standard Online Service Network https://www.spc.org.cn/online/GB%252033372-2020/?