SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is advising stakeholders that Health Canada has issued a guidance document to help them meet the requirements of the Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations.
Published on August 12, 2022, the guidelines contain, inter alia, important information relating to:
- Exemptions for woody veneers and laminate flooring
- Primary testing requirements
- A non-exhaustive list of methods for quality control testing
- Criteria for reduced-frequency testing
- Emphasis on what form labeling can take
Canada’s Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations (SOR 2021-148) was issued in July 2021. It seeks to regulate formaldehyde emissions from composite wood panels, laminated products, and finished products containing these materials. It aligns Canadian regulations with the Toxic Substances Control Act, Title VI ‘Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products’ in the United States (U.S.) and contains provisions relating to:
- Hardwood plywood (HWPW)
- Medium-density fiberboards (MDF)
- Thin-MDF
- Particleboards (PB)
- Laminated products
It also has requirements for product labeling, third-party certification programs, accredited bodies (AB), third-party certifiers (TPC) and incentives for products manufactured from ultra-low emitting formaldehyde resins (ULEF) and no added-formaldehyde-based resins (NAF). It will come into force on January 7, 2023, but testing and third-party certification requirements for laminated products will only apply from January 7, 2028.
SGS has now published SafeGuardS 099.22 to give stakeholders an overview of the provisions within the guidance document. It includes two tables to help businesses understand the product labeling elements of the regulation and commonly used methods for quality control testing.
To learn more, stakeholders are advised to review SGS’s original SafeGuardS 099.22.
SGS Consumer Product Services
SGS provides news about the development of regulations affecting consumer products as a complimentary service. With an unrivalled global network of laboratories, they offer physical/mechanical testing, analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Consumer Product Services.
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Canada Issues Guidance for Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products SafeGuardS.
Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.
For further information contact:
Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: (+852) 2774 7420
Ms. Melanie Schubert
Senior Technical Manager
Tel: +1 312 414 9394
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 96,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.