Comparison and Interpretation of Charcoal Industry Standards Between Domestic and International Markets
As a traditional energy source and industrial raw material, charcoal is widely used worldwide. Different countries and regions have established corresponding quality standards based on their own needs, which directly affect the import/export trade and usage safety of products.
In terms of physicochemical indicators, the European standard EN 1860-2 places more emphasis on the combustion performance of charcoal, requiring a fixed carbon content of no less than 60%, while China's GB/T 17664-2018 standard focuses more on environmental indicators such as sulfur content. The Japanese JIS K 1475 standard imposes particularly strict limits on heavy metal residues, requiring lead content to be controlled below 5mg/kg.
Regarding production process standards, the EU mandates that charcoal production must use sustainably sourced wood raw materials, and the production process must comply with PEFC or FSC forest certification systems. In contrast, China's standards are relatively lenient on raw material sourcing but explicitly specify process parameters such as carbonization temperature and duration.
For packaging and labeling, the American ASTM D1762 standard requires that core parameters such as calorific value and ash content must be indicated, along with a certificate of origin. In China, packaging must display basic information such as product grade, standard number, and net content.
Understanding these differences in standards is crucial for import/export enterprises. It is recommended that industry professionals thoroughly study the standard requirements of target markets and, if necessary, seek assistance from professional testing agencies to ensure compliance with various countries' regulations and smooth entry into international markets.