Singapore to ban formaldehyde in interior paints over health concerns from 2026

SINGAPORE: Singapore will ban the addition of formaldehyde in paints used for the interiors of buildings from 2026, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Monday (Mar 4).

The chemical is currently used in some paints as a preservative to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. It can be emitted into the air and accumulate in indoor spaces. 
 
"Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde can lead to negative health effects, such as respiratory discomfort and an increased risk of certain cancers," said Ms Fu in parliament during her ministry's Budget debate.

Short-term exposure can cause eye, nose, skin, and throat irritation while long-term exposure may increase the risk of asthma, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a press release following Ms Fu's announcement.
 
As formaldehyde may still be present as an impurity in certain raw materials used to make interior paint, the requirement states that formaldehyde content cannot exceed 0.01 per cent of the weight of the paint.
 
The limit has been reviewed and benchmarked against guidelines and regulations in other countries and the paint industry's best practices, said NEA.
 
From Jan 1, 2026, paint manufacturers and importers will have to submit test reports showing that the measured total in-can formaldehyde content in each interior paint product is within the limit.
 
The test reports have to be prepared by laboratories accredited by bodies such as the Singapore Accreditation Council.
 
The requirement excludes industrial paints and paints used for outdoor applications sold in Singapore. However these will have to be labelled to inform users that they contain formaldehyde, and are meant for industrial or outdoor use only.
 
NEA will monitor the market to ensure that paints sold are compliant.

CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY

The authorities had considered the issue of formaldehyde emissions in building products from as early as the beginning of last year .
 
The NEA consulted the Singapore Paint Industry Association, whose members account for around 80 per cent of the local paint industry, as well as companies outside the association.

Manufacturers and retailers also told NEA that interior paints without formaldehyde are available in Singapore.

"Based on the feedback received, the paint industry is generally supportive of the proposed measures. Similar measures have been implemented in overseas markets, including China and the European Union," NEA said.
 
Ahead of the ban on formaldehyde in interior paints, NEA advised the public to look out for and use paints certified with the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme or the Singapore Green Building Product Certification Scheme.
 
Paints with these labels are certified based on environmental sustainability and do not have formaldehyde added.
 
Those carrying out painting work should also open doors and windows for better ventilation to dilute any formaldehyde emitted, NEA said.