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EPA Publishes Final Rule for Composite Wood Product Regulations
February 21,
2023 by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a final rule to update the incorporation by reference of several voluntary consensus standards in the Agency's formaldehyde standards for composite wood products regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that have since been updated, superseded, or withdrawn by the issuing organizations.
In addition, EPA is taking final action to reflect its interpretation that remote inspections by third-party certifiers (TPCs) are allowed in certain circumstances in the event of unsafe conditions such as the on-going COVID-19 pandemic or other unsafe conditions such as natural disasters, outbreaks, political unrest, and epidemics.
Finally, EPA is making certain technical corrections and conforming changes including updating standards within the definitions section, clarifying language as it relates to production, and creating greater flexibilities for the third-party certification process.
This final rule is effective on March 23, 2023. The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 23, 2023. The incorporation by reference of certain other material listed in the rule was approved by the Director of the Federal Register on February 10, 2017, and February 7, 2018.
You may be affected by this final rule if you manufacture (including import), sell, supply, or offer for sale in the United States any of the following: hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, particleboard, and/or products containing these composite wood materials.
You may also be affected by this final rule if you test or work with certification firms that certify such materials. The following list of North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide to help readers determine whether this document applies to them.
Potentially affected entities may include: • Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing (NAICS code 3212). • Manufactured home (mobile home) manufacturing (NAICS code 321991). • Prefabricated wood building manufacturing (NAICS code 321992).
Furniture and related product manufacturing (NAICS code 337). • Furniture merchant wholesalers (NAICS code 42321). • Lumber, plywood, millwork, and wood panel merchant wholesalers (NAICS code 42331). • Other construction material merchant wholesalers (NAICS code 423390), e.g., merchant wholesale
Travel trailer and camper manufacturing (NAICS code 336214). • Recreational vehicle (RV) dealers (NAICS code 441210). • Recreational vehicle merchant wholesalers (NAICS code 423110). • Engineering services (NAICS code 541330). • Testing laboratories (NAICS code 541380). • Administrative management and general management consulting services (NAICS code 541611).
All other professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS code 541990). • All other support services (NAICS code 561990). • Business associations (NAICS code 813910). • Professional organizations (NAICS code 813920).
If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action, please consult Jeffrey Putt, Existing Chemicals Risk Management Division (Mail Code 7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-3703; email address: putt.jeffrey@epa.gov.