CARB Compliance Initiated

June 29, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Green on June 30, 2010

The American Home Furnishings Alliance sent notification to members Tuesday that it appears the California Air Resources Board has initiated its finished product compliance efforts.

An AHFA member company had reported that two of its products were purchased by CARB officials from an Industry, Calif., "big box" discount store in June. One product was produced domestically; the other was produced off-shore, and both products were labeled as CARB-compliant.

CARB asked the retailer to produce the required chain-of-custody documents within 14 days. The retailer subsequently notified the manufacturer. The manufacturer tells AHFA it has supplied the retailer with the necessary documentation and believes both units will pass CARB's emission testing.

CARB's extension of sell-through dates for pre-Phase 1 composite wood products, pre-Phase 1 finished goods and Phase 1 hardwood plywood with veneer core remains in effect, but any product that is labeled as compliant is "fair game" for CARB enforcement efforts. Although the regulators do not have a deconstructive testing protocol, they can still test exposed surfaces. The chain-of-custody paperwork requirements obviously are also subject to compliance efforts.

"Pre-Phase 1 products" include composite wood product panels manufactured before Jan. 1, 2009, that do not comply with the Phase 1 emission standards specified in the CARB formaldehyde emission standard. "Pre-Phase 1 finished goods" refers to finished goods made with pre-Phase 1 composite wood products.

In November last year, CARB announced it would extend the sell-through dates for pre-Phase 1 composite wood panels, finished goods made with pre-Phase 1 panels, and Phase 1 compliant hardwood plywood with veneer core to Dec. 31, 2010. During this grace period, CARB regulatory staff is not referring these products for penalties or taking other enforcement actions against distributors, importers, fabricators or retailers.

AHFA was among industry groups that successfully argued for the extension in the sell-through time because of the slow economy and its impact on inventories.