China tightens national standard for recycled paper pulp from October

China's State Administration for Market Regulation confirmed that a revised national standard for recycled paper pulp (GB/T 43393-2026) takes effect on 1 October 2026. The standard bans the use of unsanitary raw materials such as discarded tissue and medical paper, and sets new processing, sterilisation and heavy-metal testing requirements. It is intended to support customs inspection of imported recycled pulp, on which China's paper industry is heavily reliant.

Why this mattersTighter sourcing, hygiene and testing rules for recycled pulp will raise compliance costs for exporters supplying China and could tighten import volumes into the world's largest paper market.

• Revised standard GB/T 43393-2026 takes effect 1 October 2026
• Bans use of discarded household or medical paper as recycled pulp feedstock
• Defines dry and wet recycled pulp processes, requiring sorting, pulping and screening steps
• Excludes simply shredded or baled waste paper scraps from qualifying as recycled pulp
• Adds microbial sterilisation step and limits on bacterial and fungal colony counts
• Adds ICP-MS testing method for heavy metals to improve detection accuracy

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