The American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) wants the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt a US national standard on formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products, similar to the rules adopted by California, reports Furniture Today.
AHFA’s vice president of environmental, safety and health issues and standards Bill Perdue said a national approach to the issue was crucial to avoid conflicting state standards.
Current national formaldehyde standards for products such as composite panels are voluntary. In California, new rules to limit formaldehyde emissions started taking effect in January this year.
The AHFA has recommended that any national standard should follow California’s lead by focusing only on hardwood plywood, particleboard and MDF, and by regulating only the raw board components of end products.
