On March 1, 2026, the national standard GB/T 46119-2025 Action Dose of Human Eye Non‑Visual Biological Effects of Light officially came into force. Developed under the jurisdiction of the National Technical Committee on Lighting Equipment Standardization and administered by the China National Light Industry Council, it was jointly drafted by universities including Fudan University and Chongqing University, as well as leading enterprises in the lighting industry. As China's first national standard for the action dose of non‑visual biological effects of light on the human eye, it fills the domestic standard gap in this field. It provides a unified quantitative basis for the design and application of circadian lighting, emotional lighting, and high‑performance lighting, marking a new stage of standardized and regulated development for China's healthy lighting industry.
The non‑visual biological effects of light refer to the impact of light radiation, mediated by the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in the human eye, on the body's circadian rhythm, mood, and cognitive functions. This effect is independent of visual function but closely related to human health and work efficiency. Previously, China lacked a unified dose standard for the application of non‑visual photobiological effects, and lighting design relied heavily on experience. The newly issued national standard provides a systematic technical specification.
This standard applies to visible light radiation with wavelengths from 380 nm to 780 nm. It defines key terms related to the action dose of non‑visual biological effects of light and establishes, for the first time, a dose system adapted to the Chinese population. This includes a non‑visual effect equivalent dose system, a Circadian Stimulus (CS) model, and a DCLA‑CPS model validated for the Chinese population. Based on the action spectra of five types of cells in the human retina, melatonin suppression rate, and the degree of circadian phase shift, the three models set clear dose standards for three core lighting applications: circadian, emotional, and high‑performance lighting. It also specifies correction methods for non‑visual biological effects considering individual differences in age, visual field, and light history, enabling lighting design to follow unified standards while accommodating individual variations.
Notably, the standard only provides quantitative recommended values based on functional requirements, without recommending values for specific application scenarios or covering chromaticity and photobiological safety. It focuses solely on the response of the non‑visual pathway of the human eye, providing a flexible application foundation for lighting design in different scenarios. For core dose recommendations, the standard sets refined numerical requirements for different lighting needs:
For circadian-stable lighting, it is divided into daytime, 3 hours before bedtime at night, and sleep periods, specifying reference planes and indicators such as non‑visual effect equivalent dose (m-EDI) and Circadian Stimulus (CS). For example, the m-EDI at the 1.2 m vertical plane in the sitting eye position during the daytime should be ≥250 lx, and the CS value > 0.3. It also classifies the population into five types based on chronotype: definitely evening, moderately evening, intermediate, moderately morning, and definitely morning, each with corresponding light exposure time standards.
For emotional lighting, it focuses on intervention requirements in winter or for affective disorder interventions. The m-EDI at the 1.2 m vertical plane in the sitting position should be ≥2500 lx, with a light duration of no less than 2 hours. Illuminance and correlated color temperature are required to be adjustable in multiple levels and mode switching. Different light intervention start times are set for different chronotypes, ranging from 8:00–8:15 for definitely evening types to 4:15–5:15 for definitely morning types.
For high-performance lighting, it sets different doses and usage requirements for three lighting modes: enhanced light, artificial daylight skylight, and artificial daylight window view. For example, enhanced light requires m-EDI ≥800 lx, used twice a day for 30 minutes each, suitable for pre-shift preparation scenarios such as assembly-line factories. Artificial daylight skylight requires 3–6 uses per day for 10–20 minutes each, with a cumulative exposure duration of no less than 60 minutes.
In addition, the standard establishes recommended values for seasonal circadian phase correction light exposure, requiring an in‑eye illuminance ≥2000 lx, a duration of no less than 30 minutes, and preferably before 9:00 a.m.
The drafting of this national standard brought together multiple stakeholders including universities, research institutions, testing organizations, and LED Bulkhead Light Manufacturer enterprises. It combines the research accumulation in photobiological effects from universities such as Fudan University and Chongqing University with practical experience in lighting product R&D and application from industry players, achieving deep integration of scientific research achievements and industrial applications. The implementation of the standard not only provides clear technical guidance for product R&D, design and production of lighting enterprises, promoting the upgrading of lighting products from pure visual lighting to healthy and intelligent non‑visual lighting, but also provides a scientific basis for lighting design in various fields such as architecture, office, education, and healthcare, helping to create lighting environments that better meet human physiological needs.
From the perspective of industry development, the introduction of this national standard comes at a stage when China's healthy lighting industry is growing rapidly. With increasing consumer demand for healthy lighting and growing requirements for personalized and functional lighting in office, education, elderly care and other scenarios, a unified dose standard for non‑visual photobiological effects will become an important driver for industry development. In the future, relying on this standard, the lighting industry will further promote the innovation and implementation of healthy lighting products, and drive the standardized development of upstream and downstream industries including lighting design and lighting engineering, so that the non‑visual biological effects of light can better serve human health and the improvement of social production efficiency.
