GB/T 21302-2026 General Rule for Plastic Composite Films and Bags for Packaging Officially Released, to Take Effect on February 1, 2027

On July 30, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China issued GB/T 21302-2026 General Rule for Plastic Composite Films and Bags for Packaging. The new standard will be officially implemented on February 1, 2027, providing updated guidelines for the production and inspection of plastic flexible packaging industry.

Administered by China National Light Industry Council, this standard applies to composite films and bags made by laminating plastic with plastic, paper or aluminum foil, including three-side seal bags, stand-up pouches and other flexible packaging widely used in food, daily chemical and industrial fields.

Compared with the old version, this revision has updated a number of key requirements:

1. A new product grading system is established based on performance, facilitating product selection and quality assessment for downstream buyers;
2. Stricter requirements are set for printing quality, solvent residue, tensile strength, puncture resistance and peel strength;
3. Product marking specifications are improved. Composite packaging bags shall be clearly marked with material type and composite structure information;
4. Inspection rules are revised, together with storage and transportation provisions to reduce quality defects such as delamination and bag breakage during logistics.

After the implementation of the new standard, manufacturers of plastic composite packaging bags need to update product testing plans and optimize product labels in advance. GB/T 21302-2026 will further standardize the domestic plastic flexible packaging market, improve the safety and stability of composite films and bags, and promote high-quality and green development of the flexible packaging industry.