Do the new standards apply only to products sold
in California? 

Yes, the California regulation applies only to products offered for sale or
use in California. However, a number of other U.S. states are already con-sidering adopting the California regulation, along with several Latin- and Central American countries. If and when the standards hit Europe nobody
knows.

How does this new California standard compare to other com-
posite wood products formaldehyde emission standards in the
U.S. and around the world?

When fully implemented, the California regulation will be the world’s
toughest production standard for formaldehyde emissions from compo-
site wood pro-ducts. The emission limits set by California are compar-
able to or lower than the levels in other standards around the world
(see chart).

Comparison of Worldwide Formaldehyde Standards for Composites
(using equivalent U.S. large chamber test)

However, California’s approach to certification and enforcement is

far more rigorous than other worldwide standards. For example, the
emission limits in the California regulation are maximum limits that
100% of the products must fall below, whereas other worldwide stan-
dards do not apply to all products and allow a certain percentage of

the covered products to exceed the limits.

Also, the California standard requires third–party certification of the
composite wood panels to verify compliance, and CARB will enforce
the standard through random product testing and a strict chain–of–
custody requirement for products containing composite wood pro-
ducts.
 

Why is formaldehyde used in composite wood products? Formaldehyde’s prevalence and reactive nature make it an ideal ingredient in adhesives, as it cross– links with other ingredients to form a strong, cost-effective bond.   For decades, formaldehyde has been used to pro- duce most of the adhesives used in composite wood products.