E.P.A. Suggests Rules to Protect Americans from Exposure to Formaldehyde

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) today suggested 2 rules to help protect Americans from exposure to the harmful chemical formaldehyde, consistent with a Federal law unanimously passed by Congress in 2010. These rules ensure that composite wood products produced domestically or imported into the U.S. meet the formaldehyde emission requirements established by Congress.

Formaldehyde is used in adhesives to make a wide range of building materials and products. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause adverse public health effects including eye, nose and throat irritation, other respiratory symptoms and, in certain cases, cancer.

"The suggested regulations announced today reflect EPA's continued efforts to protect the public from exposure to harmful chemicals in their daily lives," said James J. Jones, EPA's acting assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "Once final, the rules will reduce the public's exposure to this harmful chemical found in many products in our homes and workplaces."

In 2010, Congress passed the Formaldehyde Requirements for Composite Wood Products Act, or Title VI of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which establishes emission Requirements for formaldehyde from composite wood products and directs E.P.A. to propose rules to enforce the act's provisions. EPA's suggested rules align, where practical, with the requirements for composite wood products set by the California Air Resources Board, putting in place national Requirements for companies that manufacture or import these products. EPA's national rules will also encourage an ongoing industry trend towards switching to no-added formaldehyde resins in composite wood products.

EPA's 1st suggestion limits how much formaldehyde may be emitted from hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard and finished goods, that are sold, supplied, offered for sale, manufactured, or imported in the United States. The emitted formaldehyde may be left over from the resin or composite wood making process or be released when the resin degrades in the presence of heat and humidity. This suggestion also includes testing requirements, laminated product provisions, product labeling requirements, chain of custody documentation, recordkeeping, a stockpiling prohibition, and enforcement provisions. It also includes a common-sense exemption from some testing and record-keeping requirements for products made with no-added formaldehyde resins.

The 2nd suggestion establishes a third-party certification framework designed to ensure that manufacturers of composite wood products meet the TSCA formaldehyde emission Requirements by having their composite wood products certified though an accredited third-party certifier. It would also establish eligibility requirements and responsibilities for third-party certifier's and the EPA-recognized accreditation bodies who would accredit them. This robust suggested third-party certification plan will level the playing field by ensuring composite wood products sold in this country meet the emission Requirements in the rule regardless of whether they were made in the U.S. or not.

More on Formaldehyde Proposals: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/formaldehyde/index.html

More on EPA's TSCA Work Project chemical effort: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/workplans.html

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