The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has confirmed it is undertaking an investigation into the allegations of Lumber Liquidators selling laminate flooring with formaldehyde levels above CARB Phase 2 limits.
"As a parent of young children, I completely understand and share the strong desire parents and other consumers have to know as soon as possible whether these products present a health risk," says CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye in a statement. "We are taking it very seriously and moving aggressively to get the answers that consumers, especially parents of young children, deserve to have." Kaye said the CPSC is "actively investigating" laminate flooring from the company and receiving full cooperation from Lumber Liquidators. His full statement is available here.
Earlier this week U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission to “immediately launch a broad investigation into the safety of Chinese-imported wood flooring material from Lumber Liquidators” and issue recalls if necessary. He cited homes recently rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy and apartments with poor ventilation as particular concerns. Schumer’s request followed a March 4 letter from U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, asking for a federal inquiry.
Lumber Liquidators issued the following statement in response to the CPSC news:
“Lumber Liquidators is fully cooperating with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and has already provided a significant amount of testing and safety information to the agency staff. We have been in direct communication with CPSC staff over the past several weeks and expect them to review our products using sound science and test methods that evaluate finished flooring as used in consumers' homes. It is our firm belief that finished product testing, rather than deconstruction, is the best approach to determine consumer safety. We look forward to working with the CPSC on this matter.”
In the weeks following the "60 Minutes" episode during which the allegations were first revealed, the deconstructive testing method used in the “60 Minutes” report has been the topic of heated debate regarding its validity for measuring formaldehyde emissions. Industry organizations including the Federal Wood Industries Coalition (a group of 17 organizations, including the National Wood Flooring Association) and a coalition consisting of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, American Home Furnishings Alliance, and International Wood Products Association have released statements regarding the deconstructive testing method.
A full press release on the topic from Sen. Schumer is available here.
(Article updated at 11:30 CT with update from CPSC.)
