The International Wood Products Association (IWPA) says new legislation to set a national standard for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products will create opportunities for imports.
“Our members are meeting and exceeding the emission regulations already in place in the state of California,said Brent McClendon, executive vice-president of the IWPA.
“They welcome a nationwide standard to provide uniformity and predictability to the market place.”
The Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act (S. 1660) passed the House of Representatives on June 23, 2010 and is now bound for President Obama’s desk. The legislation directs the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations on emissions, labelling, and third party testing, among other provisions.
Mr McClendon said members who import composite wood products have a long history of meeting voluntary US industry product emission standards and currently meet the emission levels and third-party certification requirements as described in Senate Bill 1660.
“Our members report to us that passage of this bill effectively ends the fallacious ‘level the playing field’ argument and allows architects and designers to increasingly specify and use the imported wood products they especially favour for particular applications in housing, cabinets and furniture,said Mr McClendon.
