China’s leather industry is now in its major new regulation——GB 20400-2026

Note: To avoid misunderstandings caused by the translation standard, some parts retain the original Chinese standard content. If there are any misunderstandings in the English translation, please refer to the Chinese version.

On March 31, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration of China) officially released GB 20400-2026 “Technical Specifications for Safety of Leather and Fur Products.”

This mandatory national standard will April 1, 2027 Implementation began, Replacing the old version GB 20400-2006 “Limits of Harmful Substances in Leather and Fur”.

This is the first comprehensive revision of GB 20400-2006 “Limits of Harmful Substances in Leather and Fur,” which has been in effect for nearly 20 years. The new standard not only changes its name but also upgrades from a single control of “limits of hazardous substances” to a comprehensive technical specification covering chemical safety, product classification, and labeling requirements.

Comparison table of old and new standards

项目名称	旧标准 GB 20400-2006	新标准 GB 20400-2026	说明
可分解致癌芳香胺染料	≤30 mg/kg(可分解有害芳香胺染料)	≤30 mg/kg	致癌芳香胺由23种增至24种(新增4-氨基偶氮苯)
甲醛	A类:≤20mg/kg B类:≤75mg/kg C类:≤300mg/kg(白羊剪绒≤600)	A类:≤20 mg/kg B类:≤75 mg/kg C类:≤300 mg/kg	新标准删除旧标准中白羊 剪绒≤600mg/kg条款 当发生争议、仲裁检验时，以GB/T19941.1的测试结果为准
六价铬	无	A类:≤3.0 mg/kg B类、C类:≤10.0mg/kg	当发生争议、仲裁检验时以 GB/T 38402的测试结果为准
短链氯化石蜡C10-C13	无	<0.15%
含氯苯酚	无	五氯苯酚≤0.5 mg/kg 四氯苯酚(总量)≤0.5mg/kg 三氯苯酚(总量)≤1.0mg/kg
邻苯二甲酸酯类增塑剂	无	DEHP+DBP+BBP+DIBP <0.1%(A类、B类、C类DINP+DIDP+DNOP <0.1%(A类)	仅考核涂层厚度或覆膜厚度超过150pm的材料
重金属总量	无	铅≤90 mg/kg(A类) 镉≤100 mg/kg(A类)
富马酸二甲	无	≤0.1mg/kg	仅考核经过海运的皮革毛皮品

	Old standard GB 20400-2006	New standard GB 20400-2026
Standard name	“Limits of Harmful Substances in Leather and Fur”	The “Technical Specifications for Safety of Leather and Fur Products” have been upgraded from a single limited list to product safety control, emphasizing product safety attributes.
Scope of application	Raw materials and products for leather, fur, and products	The new standard applies to the leather and fur parts of everyday leather, fur products, and related related products, as well as the recycled leather parts of recycled leather products and their products. Recycled leather is officially included in the scope of national standard supervision. A new concept of “reachability” has been added
Definition of infant age	Products for use by infants and young children aged 24 months or younger (inclusive).	Leather and fur products worn or used by infants and young children aged 36 months or younger
Product categories	Classified only by the limits of hazardous substances into A/B/C categories	There are three skin categories, corresponding to A/B/Class requirements By end use, it is divided into: infants, direct skin contact, and non-direct contact
Hazardous substance indicators	Only: Formaldehyde, decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes (23 types)	Six new categories were significantly added: hexavalent chromium, short-chain chlorinated paraffin, chlorinated phenol (3 types), phthalate plasticizers (7 items), total heavy metals (lead, cadmium), and dimethyl fumarate
Carcinogenic aromatic amines	23 types	Increased to 24 types, with a new “4-aminoazobenzene” CAS number: 60-09-3
Remove special restrictions	Class C: Formaldehyde ≤ 300mg/kg (sheep shear ≤). 600mg/kg)	Category C: Formaldehyde ≤ 300mg/kg
Expressing the requirement	There are no clear regulations	Product identification should indicate the safety standard number and the applicable safety technical requirements category (A/B/C).
Determination rules	Single-item determination rules and rectification determination rules	The new standard removes the single item determination rule and the whole determination rule, and unifies the rule to: based on the classification of leather and fur products, judgment is made according to Chapter 5. If all test results meet the requirements of Chapter 5, the sample is deemed qualified; otherwise, the sample is deemed unqualified.
Implement a transition period		Products produced or imported before the implementation date will be implemented starting from the 19th month from the date of implementation

Six major categories of controlled substances (core changes)

Project name	Old standard GB 20400-2006	New standard GB 20400-2026	Explanation
It can decompose carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes	≤30 mg/kg (decomposes harmful aromatic amine dyes)	≤30 mg/kg	Carcinogenic aromatic amines increased from 23 to 24 (with the addition of 4-aminoazobenzene).
Formaldehyde	Class A: ≤20mg/kg Category B: ≤75mg/kg Category C: ≤300mg/kg (Sheep Shear Wool ≤600)	Class A: ≤20 mg/kg Class B: ≤75 mg/kg Class C: ≤300 mg/kg	The new standard removes the old standard from Aries Shearing ≤ 600mg/kg clause In the event of disputes or arbitration inspections, the test results in GB/T19941.1 shall prevail
Hexavalent chromium	None	Class A: ≤ 3.0 mg/kg Categories B and C: ≤ 10.0 mg/kg	In case of disputes or arbitration inspections, the test results of GB/T 38402 shall prevail
Short-chain chlorinated paraffin C10-C13	None	<0.15%
Contains chlorophenol	None	Pentachlorophenol ≤ 0.5 mg/kg Tetrachlorophenol (total) ≤0.5 mg/kg Trichlorophenol (total) ≤ 1.0 mg/kg
Phthalate-type plasticizers	None	DEHP + DBP + BBP + DIBP <0.1% (Classes A, B, C DINP+DIDP+DNOP <0.1% (Category A)	Only materials with coating thickness or coating thickness exceeding 150 pm are evaluated
Total amount of heavy metals	None	Lead ≤ 90 mg/kg (Class A) Cadmium ≤ 100 mg/kg (Category A)
Fumaic acid dimethyl	None	≤0.1mg/kg	Only leather and fur goods shipped by sea are evaluated

Added illustrated chemistry items

项目		新版	旧版
可分解致癌芳香胺染料		≤30 mg/kg，24种	≤30 mg/kg，23种
甲醛		A类：≤20 mg/kg  B类：≤75 mg/kg  C类：≤300 mg/kg	A类：≤20 mg/kg  B类：≤75 mg/kg  C类：≤300 mg/kg  白羊剪绒≤600 mg/kg
六价铬		A类：≤3.0 mg/kg  B类/C类：≤10 mg/kg	/
短链氯化石蜡		<0.15%	/
含氯苯酚	五氯苯酚	≤0.5 mg/kg	/
	四氯苯酚总量	≤0.5 mg/kg	/
	三氯苯酚总量	≤1.0 mg/kg	/
邻苯二甲酸酯类增塑剂	DINP+DIDP+DNOP	A类：<0.1%	/
	DEHP+DBP+BBP+DIBP	<0.1%	/
重金属总量	铅	A类：≤90 mg/kg	/
	镉	A类：≤100 mg/kg	/
富马酸二甲酯		≤0.1 mg/kg	PFAS

Project		New edition	Old version
It can decompose carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes		≤ 30 mg/kg, 24 types	≤ 30 mg/kg, 23 types
Formaldehyde		Class A: ≤20 mg/kg  Class B: ≤75 mg/kg  Class C: ≤300 mg/kg	Class A: ≤20 mg/kg  Class B: ≤75 mg/kg  Class C: ≤300 mg/kg  Sheep shear ≤ 600 mg/kg
Hexavalent chromium		Class A: ≤ 3.0 mg/kg  Class B/C: ≤10 mg/kg	/
Short-chain chlorinated paraffin		<0.15%	/
Contains chlorophenol	Pentachlorophenol	≤0.5 mg/kg	/
	Total amount of tetrachlorophenol	≤0.5 mg/kg	/
	Total amount of trichlorophenol	≤1.0 mg/kg	/
Phthalate-type plasticizers	DINP+DIDP+DNOP	Class A: <0.1%	/
	DEHP+DBP+BBP+DIBP	<0.1%	/
Total amount of heavy metals	Lead	Class A: ≤90 mg/kg	/
	Cadmium	Class A: ≤100 mg/kg	/
Dimethyl fumarate		≤0.1 mg/kg	PFAS

Scope of application

清单	产品类别	示例
产品	皮革	鞋用皮革、服装用皮革、家具用皮革、汽车用皮革等
产品	毛皮	兔毛皮、水貂毛皮、羊毛皮等
产品	毛革	羊毛革、兔毛革等
产品	再生革	水刺纤维革、植绒纤维革等
制品	皮革服装服饰	皮革服装、充绒皮革服装、皮帽、皮手套等
制品	毛皮服装服饰	毛皮服装、吊面毛皮服装、毛皮围巾、毛皮领子等
制品	毛革服装服饰	毛革服装、毛革围巾等
制品	箱包皮具	皮箱、皮包(袋)、皮腰带、皮票夹等
制品	皮革毛皮装饰品	皮革毛皮挂件、皮画、毛皮挂毯等
制品	皮制球	皮制足球、篮球、排球、手球等
制品	再生革制品	再生革服装服饰、再生革箱包皮具等
制品	其他皮革毛皮制品	皮凉席等

List	Product categories	Example
Products	Leather	Leather for shoes, clothing, furniture, automobiles, and more
Products	Fur	Rabbit fur, mink fur, sheep fur, etc
Products	Fur and leather	Sheepskin leather, rabbit fur leather, etc
Products	and regenerated leather	Spunlace fiber leather, flocked fiber leather, etc
Products	Leather clothing and accessories	Leather clothing, fleece-filled leather clothing, leather hats, leather gloves, etc
Products	Fur clothing and accessories	Fur clothing, suspended fur clothing, fur scarves, fur collars, etc
Products	Fur and leather clothing	Fur clothing, fur scarves, etc
Products	Bags and leather goods	Suitcases, leather bags (bags), leather belts, stamp holders, etc
Products	Leather and fur accessories	Leather and fur pendants, leather paintings, fur tapestries, etc
Products	Leather is made into a ball	Leather football, basketball, volleyball, handball, etc
Products	Recycled leather products	Recycled leather apparel, recycled leather bags and leather goods, etc
Products	Other leather and fur products	Leather cooling mats, etc

For consumers, the new standard means safer product assurance. When purchasing leather and fur products, pay special attention to the safety category on the product label, Infant and toddler products should be prioritized For Category A products, products that directly contact the skin should be classified as Category B or above , ensuring one’s own health.

The release of GB 20400-2026 marks an important milestone in quality improvement in the leather industry. As standards are gradually implemented, the industry will move toward safer and more regulated directions, and consumers will also be able to enjoy higher-quality leather and fur products. 

From “Limits of Hazardous Substances” to “Safety Technical Specifications,” the revision of GB 20400-2026 is not just an upgrade of standards but also a shift in regulatory philosophy—from passive detection of toxic substances to proactive construction of safety systems. The release of GB 20400-2026 marks a new stage in China’s leather and fur product safety standard system entering full-chain control. The new standard sets higher requirements for the entire industry chain of leather, fur, and recycled leather.