China Detergent & Cleaning Product Compliance Services | GB 26396-2026

Key Facts About GB 26396-2026

What Is GB 26396-2026?

GB 26396-2026 is China’s mandatory safety technical specification for cleaning products. It sets baseline safety expectations for products that contain soap and/or surfactants and are used for washing or cleaning purposes. The standard is relevant to product classification, ingredient safety, prohibited or restricted substances, surfactant biodegradability, product safety assessment, testing, risk control, packaging and labeling. Because GB 26396-2026 will replace the previous voluntary GB/T 26396-2011, companies selling cleaning products in China should use the transition period to review existing formulas, labels, test reports and product dossiers.

The standard may affect both domestic and imported products. Overseas companies should not wait until the final shipment stage to assess compliance, because formula changes, testing arrangements or Chinese label revisions may require additional time.

Do Cleaning Products Need Registration or Filing in China?

Under current China detergent regulations, ordinary detergents and household cleaning products covered by GB 26396-2026 are not subject to a general product registration or filing procedure. However, products must comply with all applicable mandatory standards and safety, formula, testing and labeling requirements before being placed on the Chinese market.

A separate regulatory pathway may apply when a product is classified as a cosmetic, disinfectant, food-use detergent, hazardous chemical or another regulated product type. Classification should therefore be completed before companies finalize the formula, label, claims, testing program or import plan.

Which Products Are Covered by GB 26396-2026?

GB 26396-2026 defines cleaning products as preparations containing soap and/or surfactants for washing or cleaning purposes. Products may be supplied as liquids, granules, powders, pastes, bars, blocks, sheets or other forms. The applicable requirements cannot be determined by the product name alone. Intended use, cleaning target, route of use, formula composition and label claims should all be considered.

Products That May Be in Scope

• Personal cleansing products, such as bar soaps and intimate cleansing products;

• Laundry detergents, laundry detergent capsules or pods, fabric softeners and related household laundry products;

• Household cleaners for bathrooms, sanitary fixtures, glass, furniture and other hard surfaces;

• Household kitchen-surface cleaners that are not regulated as food-use detergents;

• Certain non-cosmetic cleaning products intended for animals, subject to product-specific classification.

Products Outside the Scope

GB 26396-2026 does not apply to cleaning products classified as cosmetics or disinfectants, detergents for food use, cleaning products for medical or industrial use, or dry-cleaning agents that use organic solvents as cleaning ingredients.

Products Requiring Case-by-Case Classification

A cleansing, antibacterial or hygiene-related claim used in another market may lead to a different classification in China. Classification should therefore be confirmed before the testing plan and Chinese label are finalized.

Before investing in testing or packaging changes, confirm whether the product follows the cleaning product, cosmetic, disinfectant or another regulatory pathway.

Who Is Responsible for Imported Cleaning Product Compliance?

Imported cleaning products that fall within the scope of GB 26396-2026 must also meet the applicable requirements. The standard includes importers within its definition of manufacturer. Overseas brands should therefore clarify responsibilities with the Chinese importer and ensure that the responsible party can access the necessary formula, raw material, safety, testing, packaging and label information.

Product responsibility may also involve the producer, repacker or a party that changes the product or its labeling. Clear allocation of responsibilities is especially important where the brand owner, contract manufacturer, importer and distributor are separate entities.

GB 26396-2026 Compliance Requirements Before Market Launch

The following areas summarize the main compliance matters that companies should review before placing cleaning products on the Chinese market.

1. Formula and Ingredient Compliance

Companies need to ensure that the product formula and ingredients meet the relevant safety requirements.

• Standardized ingredient names;

• Lists of prohibited and restricted substances;

• Assessment of hazardous substances;

• Use of fragrances;

• Biodegradability of surfactants.

2. Testing and Safety Assessment Requirements

Before market launch, companies need to prepare the relevant safety information and conduct necessary testing based on the product's intended use and use scenario.

This may include:

• Product safety assessment report;

• Product toxicological testing;

• Determination of total phosphorus pentoxide content.

3. Packaging and Label Compliance Requirements

Product packaging and labels are important carriers for providing consumers with product information and safe-use guidance.

Companies need to pay attention to:

• Basic product information;

• Labeling information where the product involves safe-use or environmental requirements.

Documents and Information Commonly Required

The exact document list depends on the product category, formula, claims, use scenario and available evidence. A typical initial assessment may require the following information:

China Detergent  Cleaning Product Compliance Process

1. Product Information Collection

The company provides the product formula, intended use, claims, label, packaging information and available safety or testing data.

2. Product Classification and Regulatory Pathway Assessment

REACH24H determines whether the product falls within GB 26396-2026 and whether cosmetic, disinfectant, food-use detergent, chemical or other requirements may apply.

3. Formula, Ingredient and Label Gap Analysis

The formula, raw-material information, prohibited or restricted substances, safety evidence, existing test reports and label are reviewed to identify compliance gaps.

4. Safety Assessment and Testing Plan

A targeted evidence and testing strategy is developed based on the product’s use scenario, exposure potential, formula and available data.

5. Remediation Review and Market-Entry Support

REACH24H reviews supplementary documents, revised formulas, new test results and updated labels, and provides a final compliance action plan before launch or import.

How REACH24H Supports Overseas Companies

REACH24H provides China detergent compliance and cleaning product compliance support covering product classification, formula and ingredient review, safety assessment support, testing strategy, and label and packaging review.

1. Product Classification and Applicability Assessment

Determine whether the product is a cleaning product under GB 26396-2026, identify possible regulatory overlaps and define the applicable compliance pathway.

2. Formula and Ingredient Compliance Review

Review formula composition, ingredient identity, prohibited and restricted substances, safety concerns, fragrance information and surfactant requirements, and provide practical remediation recommendations. Where an ingredient may be new to China, separate China REACH requirements should also be assessed.

3. Safety Assessment Support

Organize the available safety evidence, identify data gaps, assess the relevance of existing toxicological information and support preparation or review of product safety documentation.

4. Testing Strategy and Laboratory Coordination

Determine necessary testing items, avoid unnecessary or duplicative testing, coordinate suitable laboratories and review the consistency and usability of test reports.

5. Chinese Label and Packaging Review

Review mandatory information, directions, warnings, claims, packaging communication and consistency with the product formula and safety evidence.

6. GB 26396-2026 Readiness and Gap Assessment

Assess existing products or product portfolios against the new mandatory standard and provide an actionable remediation plan before the effective date.

7. Final Compliance Verification and Launch Support

Recheck updated documents, formulas, labels and test results before packaging production, import, distribution or market launch.

Why Choose REACH24H?

Headquartered in China With Local Resources

Headquartered in China, REACH24H combines local regulatory knowledge with practical experience in China market access. Our established connections with government, laboratories and supply-chain partners help overseas companies understand GB 26396-2026 and address product-specific compliance questions efficiently.

Multi-Sector Coverage Across Chemicals, Cosmetics, Disinfectants and Daily Chemical Products

Cleaning products may overlap with cosmetics, disinfectants, food-use detergents, hazardous chemicals and other regulated categories. With expertise across chemicals, cosmetics, disinfectants and consumer products, REACH24H can help companies determine the correct regulatory pathway before testing, labeling and product launch.

Strong Technical Team for Formula, Safety, Testing and Label Review

REACH24H provides coordinated support for product classification, formula and ingredient review, safety assessment, testing strategy and Chinese label review. This integrated approach helps companies identify compliance gaps, avoid unnecessary testing and prepare products for the implementation of GB 26396-2026.

FAQ

Prepare Your Cleaning Products for the China Market

Submit your product name, intended use, claims, formula, existing safety data and packaging information. REACH24H will help you determine the applicable regulatory pathway and develop a practical compliance plan for formula review, testing, safety assessment and Chinese labeling.

Related Services

• China Cosmetic Registration & Filing/Notification - For products classified as cosmetics under China’s NMPA framework.

• China Disinfectant Compliance - For products whose antimicrobial or disinfection claims trigger separate regulation.

• China REACH: New Chemical Substance Registration - For assessing ingredient status and possible new chemical substance obligations.

• China GHS Classification, SDS and Labels - For hazardous chemical classification and hazard communication requirements.

Official Regulatory References

• GB 26396-2026 - National Standard Information - Safety Technical Specification for Cleaning Products; published April 30, 2026 and effective May 1, 2027.

• China Research Institute of Daily Chemical Industry - Official Interpretation - Overview of the mandatory standard, scope and product-safety approach.

• QB/T 5658-2021 - Laundry Detergent Capsules - Current light-industry standard for laundry detergent capsules.