EPA Withdraws Rule Updating Standards in Composite Wood Formaldehyde Regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency is withdrawing changes to its recently issued final rule on formaldehyde in composite wood products that would have updated references throughout the regulations to certain voluntary industry standards. EPA said it received adverse comments on its October direct final rule (see 1710240036), which would have adopted industry standards that have been updated or withdrawn and superseded since EPA issued its final rule in December 2016 (see 1612120022 and 1607280021). EPA's direct final rule will now no longer take effect Dec. 12, and the agency will instead consider the changes as a proposed rule under normal notice and comment procedures, it said.