Since 2007, all EPF members have agreed to produce particleboard, MDF and OSB of at least E1 quality.
This commitment is now shared by hardboard, soft-board and plywood manufacturers. Yet only eight of 28 EU Member States currently require E1 by legislation (Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden).
This is why EPF and its members have initiated steps to call upon all remaining national ministries to draft and enact a decree that requires:
1. The entry of wood based panels on the national market only if they meet the requirements of European Standard EN 13986 for E1 classification (to be supported by a statement or certification).
2. The manufacture, promotion and sale of products that contain wood based panels (furniture, products for the construction sector, etc), only if they are classed at least E1.
EPF has members in 25 countries and represents the manufacturers of particleboard, MDF, OSB, hardboard, softboard and plywood. The EU wood panel industry has an annual turnover of about €22bn, creates over 100,000 jobs directly and counts more than 5,000 enterprises in Europe.
