A law cutting the emissions of volatile organic compounds, a major category of smog-forming pollutants, was gazetted today and will be implemented in phases from April 1.

The Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation will impose a direct ban on the imports and local manufacture of products whose VOC contents exceed prescribed limits.

Products that come under the regulation include architectural paints, printing inks, and six types of consumer goods - hairsprays, air fresheners, insecticides, insect repellents, floor-wax strippers and multi-purpose lubricants.

The regulation also requires emission-reduction devices to be installed on certain printing machines.