Following Efforts from Klobuchar, Crapo, and Matsui, EPA Finishes Implementing Bipartisan Legislation Lawmakers Passed to Protect Consumers from Formaldehyde in Wood Products

Press Release

Following efforts from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), and U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally finished implementing bipartisan legislation the lawmakers passed into law six years ago to protect consumers from formaldehyde in wood products. In 2010, Klobuchar, Crapo, and Matsui passed a law setting tough limits for formaldehyde emissions to protect consumers from potentially hazardous levels of formaldehyde in composite wood products. Following repeated calls from the lawmakers, the EPA has recently finally taken action to protect families nationwide by completing its regulatory process.

"No family should have to worry that the wood floors they walk on and their kids play on contain toxic chemicals that could make them sick," Klobuchar said. "Our legislation was a critical step forward in consumer safety, setting strong limits for formaldehyde emissions to protect consumers from potentially hazardous levels of formaldehyde in composite wood products. A national formaldehyde standard for composite wood products will help protect American consumers and families, and I am pleased that after our repeated efforts, these rules have finally been implemented."

"Our legislation sought to achieve important public health benefits by providing composite wood products manufacturers with a uniform standard for formaldehyde in wood products," Crapo said. "While it is good to see that EPA has finished the job and issued this prepublication draft, much work will be required to ensure that it is properly enforced. Consumers will want assurances that products they put in their homes and offices, whether produced here in the U.S. or abroad, meet the highest emissions standards as mandated under this regulation."

"I'm pleased that the EPA has taken action on our legislation to protect public health and consumers," Matsui said. "This national standard, which we have long advocated for, will ensure a set of clear standards for potentially hazardous levels of formaldehyde in composite wood products. I look forward to continuing to work with the EPA to enforce these rules in a way that best protects American families."

In 2010, Klobuchar, Crapo, and Matsui's legislation directed the EPA to establish national standards for formaldehyde emissions in new composite wood products by January 1, 2013. The law has broad support from the wood products industry as well as environmental, health, and labor organizations.

A 60 Minutes report last year found that Chinese-made laminate flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators--the largest hardwood flooring retailer in North America--contains levels of toxic formaldehyde that may fail to meet safety and health standards. Formaldehyde is a chemical that is used in many products as an adhesive, bonding agent, or solvent. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause adverse public health effects including eye, nose, and throat irritation, other respiratory symptoms and, in certain cases, cancer. The domestic wood products industry has already adopted voluntary standards to limit formaldehyde, but domestic products face competition from cheaper imported wood products that may contain high concentrations of formaldehyde. These imports have increased dramatically in the past decade, with China as the principal source.

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