New REACH requirements for formaldehyde – how it affects manufacturers
If you manufacture, import or purchase furniture, wood-based products or building materials, you are probably aware of the limits on formaldehyde emissions into the air under Swedish law. Now, that knowledge needs updating, as the Swedish regulations have been replaced by the EU-wide REACH requirements. Here, two chemists at RISE explain everything you need to know about the change.
Formaldehyde is used, amongst other things, in resins and adhesives in engineered wood for furniture and flooring, and may also be present in paints, varnishes and coatings. Formaldehyde is a volatile gas and leaches from the surfaces of materials, particularly in the early stages when a product is new.
Why are the rules on formaldehyde changing, and what are the current limit values?
“This change is being implemented for the sake of our health. Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen and can cause health problems such as irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes. This has been demonstrated by laboratory tests and animal studies,” says Björn Nguyen, a chemist and project manager in the field of chemical product safety at RISE.
This change is being implemented for the sake of our health.
From 6 August 2026, EU-wide limit values will therefore apply under the REACH Regulation. The limit values for furniture and wood-based products correspond to half the levels previously approved in Sweden under the so-called E1 classification (the European emission class for wood-based panels). This means that a wood-based panel classified as E1 does not automatically meet the new requirements.
The new limit values are 0.062 mg/m³ for furniture and wood-based products, and 0.080 mg/m³ for products such as textiles, leather, plastics, building materials and electronics. Anyone placing goods in these categories on the European market is subject to these requirements.
What does this mean for you as a manufacturer?
"Changes of this kind always come at a cost. However, most of our clients with whom we work on formaldehyde issues have already been complying with US legal requirements, and these limit values have been lower than the Swedish ones. This means the transition will not be quite so dramatic", says Ethem Muameleci, project manager for chemical product safety at RISE.
The US requirements mentioned by Ethem Muameleci are set by the government agencies CARB (the California Air Resources Board) and the EPA (the US Environmental Protection Agency), whose remit is to protect the environment and public health. This includes regulating emissions from consumer products. Manufacturers supplying the US must comply with CARB’s and the EPA’s limit values.
Certification as a tool for regulatory compliance
In March 2025, RISE finalised a new certification scheme designed to help manufacturers comply with the new formaldehyde requirements in the REACH Regulation. SPCR 020, as the certification is called, applies to manufacturing processes involving the production of wood-based composite products. The certification is not a requirement under REACH, but it is a way for you, as a manufacturer, to demonstrate that you have control.
"The manufacturer first submits the samples required for our assessment. We also carry out an inspection of the factory and review the internal production control system. The product is then sent to us so that we can test it in our climate chambers. We establish a correlation – a link – between their own quality control and our test. In this way, the manufacturer can check, as part of their day-to-day production, that they remain below the limit value", says Björn Nguyen.
Many of our customers see certification as a selling point, whilst also feeling reassured by the inspections.
At least five samples are used to establish the correlation between the manufacturer’s internal method for testing formaldehyde and RISE’s laboratory method. RISE carries out re-tests twice a year to ensure that companies retain their certification.
"Many manufacturers supply furniture giants that demand full-scale quality control in the form of this correlation. REACH does not require this; rather, it is the manufacturers’ customers who are setting the bar even higher. If you cannot demonstrate this correlation, you will not be considered as a subcontractor", says Ethem Muameleci.
Do all products have to be tested, or is component testing sufficient?
The basic rule under REACH is that the manufacturer must ensure that every product placed on the market complies with the requirements. When RISE certifies raw timber boards, a range of thicknesses is tested, which means that the final certificate applies to timber boards in the tested thicknesses.
"In the next stage of the value chain – when the wooden board becomes a component in a piece of furniture, for example – paints, varnishes, textiles and other materials are often added, which in turn may also contain formaldehyde. The furniture manufacturer must then be able to demonstrate that the finished piece of furniture meets legal requirements by presenting the testing reports and certificates from its subcontractors. If the supporting documentation is not comprehensive, it may in some cases be necessary to supplement it with testing of the end product", explains Björn Nguyen.
Ethem Muameleci:
"Our team at RISE is responsible for the wood section, whilst we have colleagues who test furniture, textiles and other materials that are also covered by the new formaldehyde limit values. Our shared task is to help companies comply with the new legal requirements."
What happens if you don’t comply with the new requirements?
In addition to furniture companies putting pressure on their subcontractors, the Swedish Chemicals Agency will also monitor compliance with REACH in its role as the supervisory authority. If a product fails to meet the formaldehyde limit, corrective action will be required, and failure to take such action will result in sanctions.
“Many of our customers see certification as a selling point, whilst also feeling reassured by the inspections,” says Ethem Muameleci.
Three tips for regulatory compliance
- Carry out a review of your products and suppliers. Find out which products and materials are covered by the new limit values and what documentation you already have from subcontractors.
- Consider certification for ongoing monitoring. Obtaining certification is a way of linking your own quality control to laboratory testing and continuously ensuring that production meets the required standards.
- Consider the legal requirement as a minimum standard. Your customers may impose stricter requirements than REACH.