Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This Draft Malawi Standard prescribes the requirements and the methods of sampling and test for the material commercially known as ready mixed paint, brushing, red oxide, priming for metals. The material is used as a primer on steel structures for interior use.    

Products Covered: Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, based on polyesters, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium; solutions based on polyesters in volatile organic solvents, containing > 50% solvent by weight (HS code(s): 320810); Paints and varnishes (ICS code(s): 87.040)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This Draft Malawi Standard covers two types of a slip-resistance; waterbased polymer floor dressing that is suitable for use on thermoplastic (asphalt), semiflexible vinyl (vinyl-asbestos), flexible vinyl, linoleum, rubber, and sealed flooring.   

Products Covered: Paints and varnishes, incl. enamels and lacquers, based on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous medium; solutions of products of subheading 3901 to 3913 in volatile organic solvents, containing > 50% solvent by weight (excl. solutions of collodion) (HS code(s): 3208); Paints and varnishes (ICS code(s): 87.040)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This document specifies the terms, definitions and symbols, classification and rating, criteria for burning behavior classification, application of classification, and classification reports for materials and products.This document applies to the classification and determination of burning behavior for building materials and products, decoration materials and products, and electrical materials and products.The classification of burning behavior for other materials and products may refer to this document.

Products Covered: Building materials and products, decoration materials and products, and electrical materials and products, mainly including wooden boards, flooring, foam plastics, tubular thermal insulation materials, textiles, upholstered furniture, soft mattresses, photovoltaic modules, etc. (HS code(s): 3816; 382499; 390311; 390940; 3918; 392113; 441112; 4413; 511130; 560290; 854190); (ICS code(s): 13.220.40)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

  This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for thinners for nitro-cellulose resin- based paints and lacquers.  

Products Covered: Organic composite solvents and thinners, not elsewhere specified or included; prepared paint or varnish removers. (HS code(s): 3814); Paints and varnishes (ICS code(s): 87.040)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for thinners for synthetic resin-based auto-refinishing paints 

Products Covered: Organic composite solvents and thinners, not elsewhere specified or included; prepared paint or varnish removers. (HS code(s): 3814); Paints and varnishes (ICS code(s): 87.040)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard prescribes the requirements and the methods of sampling and test for stable bleaching powder intended for household and industrial use.  

Products Covered: Machines for washing, bleaching or dyeing textile yarns, fabrics or made-up textile articles (excl. household or laundry-type washing machines) (HS code(s): 845140); Chemicals for industrial and domestic disinfection purposes (ICS code(s): 71.100.35)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for two types of coal-tar disinfectants that are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces. The Draft Malawi Standard is intended for the evaluation of coal-tar type disinfectants for general use. Black fluid consists of a solubilized crude phenol fraction prepared from high boiling point tar acids. White fluid consists of emulsified phenolic compounds. 

Products Covered: Tar distilled from coal, from lignite or from peat, and other mineral tars, whether or not dehydrated or partially distilled, incl. reconstituted tars (HS code(s): 2706); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for disinfectants based on phenolics which are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces that are free from excessive dirt. Phenols are compounds containing at least one hydroxyl group attached directly to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring. Examples include phenol and o-phenylphenol.  

Products Covered: Phenolic resins, in primary forms (HS code(s): 390940); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for two types of detergent-disinfectants based on quaternary ammonium compounds and other chemical agents (such as compatible surface-active agents and phosphates) that are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces that have been cleaned with potable water and have had gross soil removed, and are free from visible soil.  

Products Covered: Compounds with other nitrogen function (excl. amine-function compounds; oxygen-function amino-compounds; quaternary ammonium salts and hydroxides; lecithin and other phosphoaminolipids; carboxyamide-function compounds; amide-function compounds of carbonic acid; carboxyimide-function, imine-function or nitrile-function compounds; diazo-, azo- or azoxy-compounds; organic derivatives of hydrazine or of hydroxylamine) (HS code(s): 2929); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 June 2025 | Final date for Comment: 09 August 2025

 This Draft Malawi Standard specifies requirements for two types of detergent-disinfectants that contain organic halogen compounds (other than iodine compounds) such as fluorine, bromine or chlorine, in which the halogen(s) is (are) directly linked to nitrogen and that also contain other chemical agents (such as compatible surface-active agents and phosphates) that are miscible with water and intended for use on inanimate surfaces that have been cleaned with potable water and have had gross soil removed, and are free from visible soil.  

Products Covered: SOAP, ORGANIC SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS, WASHING PREPARATIONS, LUBRICATING PREPARATIONS, ARTIFICIAL WAXES, PREPARED WAXES, POLISHING OR SCOURING PREPARATIONS, CANDLES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, MODELLING PASTES, ‘DENTAL WAXES’ AND DENTAL PREPARATIONS WITH A BASIS OF PLASTER (HS code(s): 34); Chemicals for purification of water (ICS code(s): 71.100.80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification