EPA Again Updates References to Industry Standards in Composite Wood Formaldehyde Regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency is again amending its recently issued final rule on formaldehyde in composite wood products to update references throughout the regulations to certain voluntary industry standards, it said in a final rule. The industry standards have each been updated or withdrawn and superseded since EPA issued its final rule in December 2016 (see 1612120022 and 1607280021). The agency had withdrawn an October direct final rule issued to update the standards after receiving adverse comment (see 1712080018), and is now issuing a final rule for the same purpose after considering the input, EPA said. EPA has delayed until December 2018 the compliance dates for the regulations (see 1709190032), which set emissions standards and import certification requirements for composite wood products. The final rule takes immediate effect.