On 31 March 2026, China published GB 20400-2026 – Safety Technical Specification for Leather and Fur Products, which will enter into force on 1 April 2027 and will fully repeal the previous GB 20400-2006.
The standard defines terms and definitions, product classifications, chemical requirements, test methods and evaluation criteria for the safety of leather and fur products. It applies to all types of leather and fur products and their accessible parts, including recycled leather, which was not covered by the 2006 version.
What Changes Compared to GB 20400-2006
Many of these substances may originate from different stages of the production cycle: tanning, dyeing, finishing, coating, adhesives, plasticisers or the use of recycled materials. Compliance cannot be managed through final product testing alone it requires a structured assessment of materials and suppliers throughout the entire supply chain.
Product Classification
The standard classifies products into three categories based on intended use, with progressively stricter chemical requirements.
| Class | ||
| Products in direct contact with the user’s skin | ||
The sectors most affected are footwear, leather goods and luggage, leather, fur and shearling clothing and accessories (such as hats, gloves, scarves and collars), and the entire fashion and luxury industry with multi-component products. However, less obvious sectors also fall within the scope: leather for furniture and automotive use, decorative items made of leather or fur (such as pictures and wall hangings), leather sports balls (football, basketball, volleyball, handball) and articles made of recycled leather.
It is worth stressing that the standard also applies when leather is not the main material of the product: the presence of accessible parts made of leather, fur or recycled leather is enough for the product to fall within the scope.
Timelines and Transitional Period
The transitional period should not be interpreted as an operational postponement. Companies exporting to China should already be taking action now: correctly classifying their products by risk category, verifying regulated substances in the materials used across the supply chain, and building robust technical documentation updated laboratory reports, material datasheets, supplier declarations and acceptance criteria revised in light of the new standard.