The US Environmental Protection Agency implements the latest formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented the latest limit requirements for formaldehyde emissions from hardwood plywood, medium density fiberboard, and particleboard. These products have already been included in the 2010 Formaldehyde Standard Law for Composite Wood Products, which came into effect about 5 and a half years ago. The EPA stated that it has collaborated with the California Air Resources Board to ensure that its final rules are consistent with current California regulations for composite wood products.

One year after the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register, all hardwood plywood, particleboard, medium density fiberboard, and finished products containing these materials (referred to as composite wood products, including products used or installed in prefabricated houses) imported, sold, supplied, offered for sale, or manufactured in the United States with single or composite cores must meet the following release standards, which are the same as the California Air Resources Board's Toxic Substances Air Transmission Control Measures (CARB ATCM) Phase II standards.

——The formaldehyde emission of hardwood plywood manufactured with veneer or composite cores shall not exceed 0.05ppm;

——The formaldehyde emission of medium density fiberboard shall not exceed 0.11ppm;

——The formaldehyde emission of thin medium density fiberboard shall not exceed 0.13ppm;

——The formaldehyde emission from particleboard shall not exceed 0.09ppm

The definition of hardwood plywood only includes products that belong to veneer and indoor use. To qualify for exemption, laminated product manufacturers must maintain records to demonstrate their eligibility. Seven years after the final rule is announced, if the product is not exempted from the definition of hardwood plywood, laminated product manufacturers must test their products to ensure compliance with the formaldehyde emission standards of hardwood plywood.

Whether in the form of single boards or components, or embedded in composite wood products, the above release standards apply.

After the release of the standard takes effect, unless composite wood products are specially exempted, certification must be obtained for both veneer and embedded components or finished products before they can be imported, sold, supplied, offered for sale or manufactured. To obtain certification and maintain certification qualifications, veneer manufacturers must establish a quality assurance and quality control plan, regularly conduct quality control tests on product emissions, and have third-party certification agencies recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency conduct or supervise formaldehyde emission tests every quarter.

The US Environmental Protection Agency clarified in another Q&A document that although finished products do not require formaldehyde emission testing and certification, if the components of the finished products are considered regulated composite wood products, they must undergo testing to ensure compliance with emission standards. If composite wooden products are components of finished products, their manufacturers must keep documents to prove that the relevant products have been inspected and qualified. The Environmental Protection Agency also stated that formaldehyde emission testing should be conducted by veneer manufacturers and third-party certification agencies. Manufacturers and retailers have a responsibility to ensure that they only purchase composite wood products that meet the standards.

Veneers or bundled veneers sold, supplied, or offered for sale in the United States must be labeled with the name and batch number of the veneer manufacturer, the third-party certification body (EPA TSCA Title VI TPC) number under the Toxic Substances Control Act of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a statement that the product has been verified to comply with Part IV of the Toxic Substances Control Act. If the composite wood panel is not individually labeled, its manufacturer, importer, distributor, processor, or retailer must use methods sufficient to identify the veneer supplier, such as color coded edge markings, to link the information on the label to the product. These materials must be provided to potential customers upon request. Labels can be printed, hung, or pasted.

Importers, processors, distributors, and retailers must take reasonable precautions to ensure that the composite wood products they sell, supply, offer for sale, or hold for sale, whether veneers, components, or finished products, comply with appropriate release standards. Importers must demonstrate that they have taken reasonable precautions, such as keeping delivery notes, invoices, or similar documents for 3 years, including written statements from suppliers indicating that composite wood products, components, or finished products comply with Part of the Toxic Substances Control Act or were produced before the final rule is published in the Federal Register, and ensure that certain records are available to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency upon request within 30 days.

Veneer manufacturers must also keep production records for 3 years. However, if veneer manufacturers producing composite wood products are allowed to reduce the number of tests or be exempted from third-party inspections, they must always retain the original proof of eligibility for reducing the number of tests or exempting third-party inspections.

Huaxun Testing reminds enterprises to pay attention to the updates of relevant regulations. Huaxun has a professional technical team that provides professional solutions for many enterprises. Helping numerous enterprises achieve success in the global market. For more details, please contact the sales elites of Huaxun or the contact information on the page.