EU Implements Phase-wise Regulation on Formaldehyde in Articles

The European Union (EU) has issued Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 on July 17, 2023, to regulate formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances in articles. The new law will be implemented in phases, starting on August 6, 2026.

The regulation includes the following key points and provisions:

(*) Scope: The regulation applies to wood-based articles, articles other than furniture and wood-based articles, and the interior of road vehicles, including trucks and buses.

(*) Emission Limits: The regulation sets specific limits for formaldehyde emissions from the mentioned articles and vehicle interiors. For wood-based articles, the limit is ≤ 0.062 mg/m3, while for articles other than furniture and wood-based articles, the limit is ≤ 0.080 mg/m3. The limit for the interior of road vehicles is also ≤ 0.062 mg/m3.

(*) Test Methods: The regulation details the test methods to measure formaldehyde emissions from articles and the interior of vehicles. These methods are specified in Appendix 14.

(*) Exemptions: Certain products are exempted from the regulation, including those where formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing substances are naturally present in the materials used for manufacturing. Additionally, some industrial, professional, and second-hand articles and road vehicles are exempted, provided they do not lead to exposure of the general public to formaldehyde under foreseeable conditions of use.

(*) Toy Restrictions: The regulation emphasizes that toys for children of all ages fall within the scope of restrictions.

The implementation dates for the emission limits are as follows:

(*) Wood-based articles: After August 6, 2026
(*) Articles other than furniture and wood-based articles: After August 6, 2026
(*) Interior of road vehicles, including trucks and buses: After August 6, 2027

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