California Air Resources Board Sets Limits to Reduce Formaldehyde Emissions in Composite Wood Products
June 2007 (07B-127)

On 26 April 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted a control measure to reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. CARB approved the recommended regulation with modifications. The adopted text and modifications are available to the public on the CARB website. The modifications will be available for public comment for 15 days.  After this time, the modifications will be sent to the Office of Administrative Law for final review and inclusion into the adopted text. CARB has not yet made a formal announcement of when this is expected. 

What is composite wood?
Composite wood is a general term for wood-based panels made from wood pieces, particles, or fibers bonded together with a resin. California’s regulations focus on three products: hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium density fiberboard (MDF). These products are used to make furniture, cabinets, shelving, countertops, flooring, and moldings in homes.  All wood has some naturally occurring formaldehyde.  However, more formaldehyde is added to composite wood in the form of certain resins that are used to bind wood particles together.

Who will be responsible for complying with the regulation?
Retailers as well as manufacturers will be subject to the regulation. Both finished as well as unfinished products made from, or containing any form of composite wood will be subject to the regulation. Although the new regulation is not scheduled to go into effect until January 2009, retailers and manufacturers of products made from composite wood are encouraged to begin looking for sources of composite wood, that contain little or no formaldehyde in the resin used in the composite wood production process.

What are the requirements of this new regulation?
The regulations require all composite wood products sold in California to meet strict formaldehyde limits. To ensure compliance, foreign and domestic manufacturers will need to certify their products by a "third party" laboratory approved by CARB and clearly label the items as meeting California's emission requirements. While no third party laboratories yet have been approved by CARB for these new regulations, Bureau Veritas is working closely with CARB to become an approved laboratory.

Proposed Phase 1 Emission Standards (in parts per million (ppm))
Effective Date	Hardwood plywood: veneer core	Hardwood plywood: composite core	Particle Board	Medium Density Fiberboard	Thin Medium Density Fiberboard
January 2009	0.08ppm	- - -	0.18 ppm	0.21 ppm	0.21 ppm
July 2009	- - -	0.08ppm	- - -	- - -	- - -
Proposed Phase  2 Emission Standards (in parts per million (ppm))
January 2011	0.05 ppm	- - -	0.09 ppm	0.11 ppm	- - -
January 2012	- - -	- - -	- - -	- - -	0.13 ppm
July 2012	- - -	0.05 ppm	- - -	- - -	- - -

Additional Information Regarding Formaldehyde in Composite Wood Products
 Original proposed regulation text:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/compwood07/appa.pdf

 Suggested modifications text:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/carb1.pdf

 The Composite Wood Products Homepage:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm

Keeping Up-to-Date
Once the public comment period ends for the modified text, CARB will make a formal announcement. Additionally, CARB will specify “third party” testing requirements for this new regulation. As additional information becomes available, we are committed to keeping you informed.   

How Can Bureau Veritas Assist You? 
Bureau Veritas is committed to providing testing services to help you meet the requirements of this new regulation and is working with CARB to become an approved laboratory. In addition, we  offer a wide range of services to address specific product and supply chain concerns including:
 Comprehensive testing services including analytical testing
 Auditing
 Inspections

For More Information
Please contact your client services representative or nearest Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services location.