Hairspray, liquid cleaners, and spray paint are examples of consumer products that are made with ozone-forming chemicals known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Architectural coatings and the solvents that are used for thinning the coatings also emit VOCs when these coatings are applied. VOCs react with other pollutants under sunlight to form ground-level ozone. Although each product only contains a small amount of VOCs, Taiwanese use over a quarter billion of these items every year.

According to the Taiwan Emissions Data System (TEDS 11.0), the annual emissions of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) emitted from consumer products and architectural coatings were about 157,000 and 30,000 metric tons in 2018, respectively, and contributed 33.7% and 6.5% of total NMHC emissions for both stationary and area sources in Taiwan. Reducing VOC emissions from consumer products therefore plays an integral part in MOENV's effort to reduce ground-level ozone in Taiwan.

The control strategy for VOCs from consumer products and architectural coatings was established by following the strategy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. The main strategy is to establish VOC content limits of these products and coatings.

The MOENV has established VOC content limits for architectural and industrial maintenance coatings on August 13, 2019. The VOC content limits (50~600 g-VOCs/L-product) for three categories and five types (Types A, B, C1, C2, and C3) of architectural and industrial maintenance coatings. It is estimated that the reduction of VOC emissions of about 4,800 metric tons per year will be achieved through enforcement of this regulation. The follow-up control of VOCs from architectural and industrial maintenance coatings involves collecting data on sales volumes and determining the VOC content of Types D to L coatings.

For other consumer products, the control is also focuses on VOC emissions, and the same as architectural and industrial maintenance coatings, regulates the VOC content in products.

For other consumer products, the MOENV will conduct surveys to be completed by manufacturers and importers that sell products in Taiwan.

Hairspray, liquid cleaners, and air fresheners are the priority consumer product categories. The MOENV is currently testing the VOC content of the products and establishing a VOC content database for the three product categories. This information allows us to determine the feasibility of further reducing consumer product emissions and is used to update our consumer products emission inventory.