China will implement eight new and revised forestry industry standards for wood-based panels on 1 September 2026, following their approval by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA). The updated standards are intended to strengthen product quality, support specialised market applications and advance sustainability across the country’s wood-based panel sector.
The regulatory package comprises five newly established standards and three revised standards, reflecting the industry’s growing focus on healthcare, ageing-friendly infrastructure, advanced decorative materials and environmental performance.
Among the newly introduced standards are technical specifications for antibacterial wood-based panels, establishing hygiene and material performance requirements for sanitary and high-use environments. A separate standard covers medical wood-based panels, defining the technical performance criteria for panels intended for healthcare facilities.
The new regulations also introduce standards for continuous laminated decorative panels manufactured using thermosetting resin-impregnated paper, providing specifications for production quality and product performance. In addition, a dedicated edge banding standard establishes testing methods and manufacturing requirements for panel edging products.
Recognising the increasing demand for age-friendly building materials, the NFGA has also introduced a standard for elderly-friendly wood-based panels, outlining general technical requirements for products designed for senior living facilities and accessible architectural applications.
Alongside the new standards, three existing regulations have been revised to align with current industry practices and sustainability objectives. The updated life-cycle assessment (LCA) standard introduces enhanced methodologies for evaluating the environmental impacts of wood-based panel production throughout a product’s lifecycle.
The revised insect-resistant plywood standard modernises technical specifications for plywood products treated to resist biological deterioration caused by insect pests, while the updated fibreboard for wooden doors standard strengthens quality and performance requirements for fibreboard used in door manufacturing.
The implementation of these standards underscores China’s continued efforts to enhance product quality, encourage innovation in value-added panel products and promote more sustainable manufacturing practices. Industry participants are expected to align production processes and quality assurance systems with the new requirements ahead of the 1 September implementation date.
