An agreement has been reached for new Formaldehyde Act “manufactured by” dates for composite wood panel producers, which includes engineered wood flooring manufacturers.
The agreement sets June 1, 2018, as the new compliance date for the Formaldehyde Act of Title VI of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
The decision was reached in the case of Sierra Club v. Scott Pruitt.
Products certified by a California Air Resources Board-approved third-party certifier will continue to be recognized by the EPA until March 22, 2019, according to the agreement. After the cutoff date, composite wood products will need to comply with EPA TSCA Title VI requirements. The agreement preserves the sell-through provision and applies to panels and finished goods manufactured before June 1, 2018.
In February, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White ruled in favor of Sierra Club in the lawsuit, which challenged the EPA’s delayed implementation of formaldehyde emission standards.
The International Wood Products Association (IWPA) issued a statement lauding the resolution on the new compliance dates.
IWPA Executive Director Cindy Squires said in a statement that the court order ensures the industry can implement the required changes without significant supply disruptions. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Environmental Protection Agency on implementation in the coming months now that this litigation is behind us,” she said.
