Formaldehyde in Interior Building Products

1.1 Formaldehyde is a chemical compound classified as carcinogenic under the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Formaldehyde may be emitted by some building products, which has raised health concerns.

1.2 While there are no regulations specifying permissible indoor air quality limits for formaldehyde, voluntary formaldehyde limits for indoor air quality have been suggested by different international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends a formaldehyde limit of 0.1 mg/m³ (0.08 ppm) as an indoor air quality guideline. Locally, the Singapore Standard SS554:2026 Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality in Air-Conditioned Buildings recommends a voluntary formaldehyde limit of 0.1 mg/m³ (0.08 ppm) in indoor air of certain premises¹ over any 30-minute period.

[1] SS554:2026 Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality in Air-Conditioned Buildings applies to all enclosed air-conditioned premises, with the exception of residential premises, factory production areas, hospitals, polyclinics and laboratories.

2.1 From 1 January 2026, the manufacture, import and sale of interior paints with formaldehyde content equal to or more than 0.01 % weight by weight (w/w) for local use will not be allowed. The export and import for re-export of interior paints with formaldehyde content equal to or more than 0.01 % w/w will require a Hazardous Substance Licence from NEA.

2.2 Industrial paints and paints used for outdoor applications are excluded from the above controls. Labelling will be required for these paints if they contain formaldehyde content equal to or more than 0.01 % weight by weight (w/w), to inform consumers that they contain formaldehyde and are for industrial and outdoor uses only.

2.3 More details can be found in a media release document released by the National Environment Agency (NEA), via: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/no-formaldehyde-in-interior-paints-from-1-january-2026.

2.4 If you suspect that a store is selling interior paints that are not compliant, you may contact us via our Online Feedback Form at http://www.nea.gov.sg/feedback or the myENV and One Service mobile applications (available on App Store and Google Play). In your feedback, please provide us with details of the product, manufacturer, and the retail store that is selling the paints.

3.1 There are currently no regulatory requirements addressing formaldehyde levels in other building products, such as composite wood and adhesives, in Singapore. NEA is currently reviewing international best practices, guidelines, and regulatory requirements before considering potential new controls on formaldehyde in these building products.

3.2 The Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) and Singapore Environment Council (SEC) both have labelling programmes for a range of building products, where the building products must have low or non-detectable formaldehyde levels to be labelled. The lists of building products that have attained SGBC and SEC labels are accessible via https://web.sgbc.online/public/product and https://www.sgls.sec.org.sg/sgl-directory/ respectively.  Consumers are advised to communicate with their interior designer or contractor to use green-labelled building products or any other materials with low formaldehyde emissions that are readily available in the market.

3.3 For furniture containing composite wood panels, consumers may request that furniture companies provide the panels’ formaldehyde emission test reports issued by laboratories accredited under the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC-MRA) prior to purchasing, to assess whether the composite wood panels’ formaldehyde emissions exceed the recommended limit (i.e., 0.124 mg/m³) in the Alliance for Action on Sustainable Spaces (AfA)’s Industry Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality in Singapore.

4.1  While there are low-cost formaldehyde sensors available in the marketplace, there is currently limited information on the accuracy and precision of these sensors. Various factors can affect the performance of these sensors, including their placement within indoor spaces, duration of use, data processing methods, temperature, relative humidity, and the presence of multiple contaminants in the air.

4.2  Consumers who would like to acquire a low-cost formaldehyde sensor are advised to instead use calibrated formaldehyde meters (e.g., with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) calibration certificate), to ensure accurate and reliable results. Alternatively, consumers may approach local laboratories accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC)², a member of the ILAC-MRA, to assess formaldehyde levels indoors.

5.1  Consumers should consider specifying low-formaldehyde building products in renovation contracts and discuss ventilation requirements with contractors upfront, and incorporate adequate ventilation time into project schedules.

5.2   Premature occupancy increases the risk of formaldehyde exposure, even when low-emission building products are used, as newly installed materials typically require time for initial off-gassing to diminish any residual formaldehyde. Schedule any formaldehyde-emitting installations early in the renovation timeline to maximise ventilation periods before reoccupation. Coordinate with contractors to ensure proper ventilation during and after material installation, and if formaldehyde-emitting materials are installed, plan to extend ventilation for several weeks post-completion while delaying occupancy of heavily-renovated areas. You may also refer to the following link for additional information on recommended measures to improve ventilation and indoor air quality: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/public-cleanliness/environmental-cleaning-guidelines/advisories/guidance-on-improving-ventilation-and-indoor-air-quality-in-buildings-for-a-healthy-indoor-environment

6.1  If you are experiencing any issues (e.g., strong chemical odour) following your home renovation, we advise you to work with your contractor to find a mutually agreeable solution.

6.2  You may also wish to contact Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) for assistance, if applicable. You may contact them at 6277 5100 or fill in their online form at https://crdcomplaints.azurewebsites.net/

6.3  In the meantime, we would advise you to ventilate rooms with potential sources of formaldehyde. This can be done by keeping windows and doors open, and using fans to disperse the formaldehyde emitted.

7.2  NEA does not have a list of approved companies for formaldehyde removal services or provide recommendations on companies with such services. If you are considering such services, find out from the company what formaldehyde removal technology is used, and whether the technology claims are supported by relevant efficacy and safety data, including information such as method of formaldehyde removal and how it was tested, removal efficiency, and possible by-product formation.

7.3  NEA is aware of the growing number of air cleaners and filters promoting removal of formaldehyde from indoor air. NEA does not have a list of approved air cleaners and filters for such purpose. Consumers are advised to exercise discretion and ensure that the product claims are supported by relevant efficacy and safety data including information such as, method of formaldehyde removal and how it was tested, removal efficiency, and possible by-product formation. Some products that may generate ozone during operation are not recommended due to ozone’s potentially harmful health effects. As there is currently limited data on the effectiveness of air cleaners in removing volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, we advise you to first and foremost, reduce sources of formaldehyde indoors by choosing low-emission building products that are certified with the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS) or the Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) Certification Scheme. If there are formaldehyde issues indoors, we advise you to continue with ventilation methods to dilute the concentration of formaldehyde in the indoor spaces.  

1. What is formaldehyde?

   Formaldehyde (CAS number 50-00-0) is a chemical compound that may be present in building products (e.g., paints, composite woods, and adhesives).
   

2. What are the short-term and long-term effects of formaldehyde?

   Short-term exposure to formaldehyde may cause some individuals to feel irritation in areas such as their eyes, noses, skin and throat. Long-term exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde has been associated with asthma and some forms of cancer.
   

3. How is formaldehyde used in building products (e.g., interior paints, composite woods, and adhesives)?

   Formaldehyde may be added to some interior paints as a preservative/ biocide to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. Formaldehyde-based resins may also be used in the manufacture of composite wood products and some adhesives.
   

4. What are the regulatory limits for formaldehyde in interior paints?

   From 1 January 2026, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will require paints sold in Singapore intended for application on interior surfaces of buildings (i.e., interior paints) to not contain formaldehyde equal to or more than 0.01 % weight by weight (w/w). The National Environment Agency  (NEA) has released a media release document which can be accessed  via https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/news/index/no-formaldehyde-in-interior-paints-from-1-january-2026.
   

5. What are some acceptable test standards for conducting formaldehyde emission testing for building products?

   Formaldehyde emission testing for building products is tested using the emission chamber method. The most commonly referenced standards are ISO16000-9, ASTM D5116, and EN 16516, where materials are placed in chambers under controlled conditions to measure the amount of formaldehyde released over time. While there are currently no regulatory requirements addressing formaldehyde emission in building products, the Alliance for Action on Sustainable Spaces (AfA)’s industry guidelines recommend limits of 0.1 mg/m³ for adhesives, coatings and paints, and 0.124 mg/m³ for composite wood products³.

   [3] Emission test methods mentioned in AfA’s guidelines are ASTM D5116 and ISO 16000-9.

6. What building products with low formaldehyde emissions can I consider for purchase and use?

   Consumers may refer to green-labelled building products certified by the Singapore Green Building Council (accessible via https://web.sgbc.online/public/product) or the Singapore Environment Council (accessible via https://www.sgls.sec.org.sg/sgl-directory/).
   

7. Does NEA conduct formaldehyde testing for indoor spaces or have a list of approved companies that offer such services?

   NEA does not provide formaldehyde testing services or maintain a list of approved companies for such services in indoor spaces. If required, you may wish to engage a commercial testing laboratory accredited by Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) to assess formaldehyde levels indoors. A list of SAC-accredited commercial testing laboratories is available at https://sacinet2.enterprisesg.gov.sg/sacsearch/search (In Advanced Search, Under Scheme, select ‘Laboratories’; Under Field, select ‘Environmental Testing’; Under Area, select ‘Indoor Air Quality’). You may read the ‘Terms of Accreditation’ published on the webpage to verify if the chosen laboratory has been accredited to measure formaldehyde levels in indoor air. 
   

8. What can I do if I suspect that there are high levels of formaldehyde within indoor spaces?

   The most effective way to remove formaldehyde from indoor spaces is ventilation. We advise that you try to ventilate rooms that have sources of formaldehyde as much as possible.  If possible, keep windows and doors open at opposite sides to enhance cross ventilation. Deploying fans at locations where they can facilitate the off-gassing and expulsion of formaldehyde from living spaces would complement the measures mentioned above.
   

   While the actual period required to reduce formaldehyde to acceptable levels will vary from case to case, emissions are expected to reduce over time. You may also refer to the following link for additional information on recommended measures to improve indoor air quality: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/public-cleanliness/environmental-cleaning-guidelines/advisories/guidance-on-improving-ventilation-and-indoor-air-quality-in-buildings-for-a-healthy-indoor-environment
   

9. Does NEA have a list of approved companies offering formaldehyde removal services?

   NEA does not have a list of approved companies for formaldehyde removal services or provide recommendations on companies with such services. If you are considering such services, find out from the company what formaldehyde removal technology is used, and whether the technology claims are supported by relevant efficacy and safety data including information such as, method of formaldehyde removal and how it was tested, removal efficiency, and possible by-product formation. Some technologies may generate ozone during operation and are not recommended due to ozone’s potentially harmful health effects.
   

   As there is currently limited data on the effectiveness of formaldehyde removal technologies in removing formaldehyde, we advise you to first and foremost, reduce sources of formaldehyde indoors by choosing low-emission building products that are certified with the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS) or the Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) Certification Scheme. If there are formaldehyde issues indoors, we advise you to ventilate rooms that have sources of formaldehyde as much as possible to dilute the concentration of formaldehyde in the indoor spaces. 
   

10. Can air cleaners be used to remove formaldehyde in indoor air? Does NEA have a list of approved air cleaners that can help remove formaldehyde from indoor air?
    
    NEA does not have a list of approved air cleaners for formaldehyde removal from indoor air.
    
    We advise you to exercise discretion and ensure that the product claims are supported by relevant efficacy and safety data including information such as method of formaldehyde removal and how it was tested, removal efficiency, and possible by-product formation. Some products that may generate ozone during operation are not recommended due to ozone’s potentially harmful health effects.
    
    As there is currently limited data on the effectiveness of air cleaners in removing volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, we advise you to first and foremost, reduce sources of formaldehyde indoors by choosing low-emission building products that are certified with the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS) or the Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) Certification Scheme. If there are formaldehyde issues indoors, we advise you to continue with ventilation methods to dilute the concentration of formaldehyde in the indoor spaces.