EU - Regulation on the Placing on the Market of Products Releasing Formaldehyde

​On July 14, 2023, the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2023/14641 amending Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (REACH) relating to the maximum permissible formaldehyde emissions from articles. The regulation aims to minimize formaldehyde concentrations in indoor air to protect the general population.

Formaldehyde has been classified as a potential human carcinogen (Carc. 1B) according to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (CLP). This substance is one of the chemicals with high production volumes and a wide range of applications. Formaldehyde is mainly used as a chemical intermediate in the production of synthesized chemicals. The most commonly produced substances / products made of formaldehyde include urea-formaldehyde resins (UF), phenol-formaldehyde resins (PF) and melamine-formaldehyde resins (MF). These formaldehyde-based polymers are used as binders particularly in the wood-based materials industry and in the production of synthetic glass fibers and are one of the most common sources of formaldehyde release into indoor air.