This page last revised November 14, 2008

Formaldehyde is produced on a large scale worldwide.  One major use includes the production of wood binding adhesives and resins.  The ARB evaluated formaldehyde exposure in California and found that one of the major sources of exposure is from inhalation of formaldehyde emitted from composite wood products containing urea-formaldehyde resins.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified formaldehyde from “probably carcinogenic to humans” to “carcinogenic to humans” in 2004, based on the increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.  Formaldehyde was also designated as a toxic air contaminant (TAC) in California in 1992 with no safe level of exposure.  State law requires ARB to take action to reduce human exposure to all TACs.

Staff of the Air Resources Board (ARB) conducted a formal rulemaking process to address formaldehyde exposure from composite wood products.  On April 26, 2007, ARB approved an airborne toxic control measure (ATCM) to reduce formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products including hardwood plywood, particleboard, medium density fiberboard, thin medium density fiberboard (thickness ≤ 8mm), and also furniture and other finished products made with composite wood products. 

The ATCM to control formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products was approved on April 18, 2008 by the Office of Administrative Law.  The regulation has been filed with the Secretary of State to be codified into Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, and is immediately effective.  The first emission standards will be implemented on January 1, 2009.  The final regulation text is now available.

 

UPDATES 

Recent Activity
Description	Date Posted
New Advisory-Non Complying Lots
New Alternative Test Method (EN 120) Approved
FACTSHEET - Requirements for Fabricators Available in  English, Vietnamese and Chinese	November 12, 2008
September 23 Importer Webinar Recording Now Available	October 16, 2008
September 25 Retailer Webinar Recording Now Available	October 16, 2008
NAF / ULEF Application	August 29, 2008
June 23 Fabricator Webinar Recording	July 11, 2008
New Approved Alternate Small Scale Quality Control Method for Use by Manufacturers	June 30, 2008
(中 文 ) Chinese Version of the ATCM	June 11, 2008

-Board Presentation - April 26, 2007

For more information, please contact Mr. Brent Takemoto at (916) 327-5615, or Mr Lynn Baker at (916) 324-6997.