The Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) (Amendment) Regulation, which extends the existing control to vehicle-refinishing paint, vessel paint, pleasure-craft paint, adhesives and sealants, will come into operation January 1.

The new legislation will phase out the import and local manufacture of the newly regulated products with volatile organic compound content exceeding prescribed limits.

The Environmental Protection Department said today the amended regulation will cut local emission of the compounds by 700 tonnes.

From January 1 vessel paint, adhesives and sealants will need to meet the prescribed volatile organic compounds content limits while pleasure-craft paint and vehicle-refinishing paint will be brought under control from January 1 and October 1, 2011.

More types of vessel and pleasure-craft paint will need to meet the requirements by April 1, 2012.

Volatile organic compounds play a significant role in the formation of ozone and respirable suspended particulates, which are major pollutants causing smog.