With the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Title VI going into effect 12 December 2017, there are a lot of questions still unanswered about the Act. Fortunately, there are published answers regarding some elements of the rule. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions:

Who are some of the accreditation bodies?

 

Examples of EPA-approved Accreditation Bodies
American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)	Product certification and laboratory
ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)	Laboratory only
International Accreditation Service (IAS)	Product certification and laboratory
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)	Product certification only

Who are third-party certifiers (TPC)?

An AB-accredited entity that:

• Verifies the accuracy of emission test procedures and facilities used by HWPW, MDF, and PB manufacturers and laminated product producers to conduct formaldehyde quality control tests
• Evaluates and monitors manufacturer/laminated product producer quality control programs
• Provides independent audits and inspections of manufacturer/laminated product producer facilities, processes, and records

What are the limits for formaldehyde?

EPA TSCA Title VI Formaldehyde Emission Limits:

Formaldehyde Emission Limits:	ppm
HWPW-VC	0.05
HWPW-CC	0.05
Particleboard	0.09
MDF >8mm thick	0.11
Thin-MDF ≤8mm thick	0.13
Laminated Products (wood/woody grass veneer attached to TSCA-certified platform)	0.05

Even though the rule does not go into effect until later in the year, labeling of the products can begin as early as 25 August 2017. Benchmark International has already begun preparing our clients for the new regulation, including creating a comprehensive training program. For more information, visit our webpage on EPA Regulations or contact us and see what we can customize for you.