Furniture Today, December 10, 2009 — A bill to establish national formaldehyde standards for composite wood products was passed out of a U.S. Senate committee Thursday and could be up for a full Senate vote early next year.

Called the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, S. 1660 would set standards for domestic and foreign producers.

“These standards will both protect public health and ensure an even playing field between domestic wood products and foreign imports,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in a press release. She and Sen. Mike Crapo R-Idaho, introduced the bill in September.

A spokesman for Klobuchar said the bill moves on to a vote by the Senate and could be voted on early in 2010.

It would establish the first ever national standard for formaldehyde emissions, based on the new standards that California has started phasing in.

The California Air Resources Board, which is responsible for implementing that rule, has issued extensions to give businesses longer to clear their inventories of noncompliant products. For the furniture industry, enforcement will start in early 2010.

California’s rule covers emissions from products such as hardwood plywood, particleboard and medium density fiberboard, which are commonly used in furniture.

Under the proposed federal legislation, by Jan. 1, 2012, products sold in the United States would have to meet a formaldehyde emission limit of about 0.09 parts per million, which would be the toughest standard in the world, a press release from Klobuchar’s office said.

The Environmental Protection Agency will establish controls for the rule. The rule also requires Housing and Urban Development to update codes on formaldehyde levels in manufactured homes.

The legislation would require third party testing and certification to ensure compliance and direct the EPA and Customs and Border Protection to collaborate to enforce standards.

Source: Furniture Today