U.S. – EPA Extends Compliance Deadlines for Formaldehyde Emission Standards in Composite Wood Products

Vol. 990 | 03 Oct 2017

On September 25, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final rule extending the compliance dates for the formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products final rule, issued pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Title VI, and published in the Federal Register on December 12, 2016. The extension of the compliance dates and transitional period for Third Party Certifiers (TPC) will provide flexibility to the composite wood product manufacturers and importers and prevent disruption in the supply chain.

The revised deadlines are as follows:

• The date for the emission standards, recordkeeping, and labeling provisions has been extended to December 12, 2018, from December 12, 2017;
• The date for import certification provisions has been extended to March 22, 2019, from December 12, 2018;
• The date for laminated product producer provisions has been extended to March 22, 2024, from December 12, 2023; and
• The transitional period during which the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Third Party Certifiers (TPC) may certify composite wood products under TSCA Title VI without an accreditation issued by an EPA TSCA Title VI Accreditation Body, so long as the TPC remains approved by CARB, is recognized by EPA, and complies with all aspects of the December 12, 2016, final rule until March 22, 2019, from December 12, 2018.

The final rule becomes effective on October 25, 2017.

Final rule can be reviewed at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-09-25/pdf/2017-19455.pdf  

For questions, please contact Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia (pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com, +1-847-212-8273).