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From Home Furnishing Business

AHFA Presents 2025 Regulatory Summit “Eyes on the Horizon”

July 28, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

All companies manufacturing, importing or retailing home furnishings for the U.S. market are invited to attend the two-day forum. AHFA’s 2025 “Eyes on the Horizon” Regulatory Summit offers a unique opportunity for industry executives to join with regulatory, legal and industry experts as they explore wide ranging issues that will impact both immediate and future home furnishings operations.

“This year’s Summit covers compliance strategies and best practices for regulations that are in place today,” notes AHFA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Bill Perdue, “but companies that don’t have eyes on the horizon will find themselves unprepared for what’s coming next.”

Summit topics include:

Formaldehyde. After decades working to regulate formaldehyde emissions in composite wood products, the Environmental Protection Agency’s final formaldehyde risk assessment surprised the industry by listing foam seating as a “condition of use” that contributes to consumer health risks. Worker exposure also is under scrutiny again. The summit will offer updates and insights for this evolving landscape.

Packaging. New state-level “extended producer responsibility” regulations are reshaping packaging requirements across the United States. These laws – now in place in six states – shift the cost of packaging disposal away from the public sector and into the laps of product manufacturers. For an industry that routinely ships heavy and fragile products, costs could quickly soar. The Summit stage once again becomes a research lab, as attendees observe several common furniture shipments being unpackaged to highlight our industry’s potential vulnerabilities under these emerging regulations.

CPSC’s E-Filing Mandate. Next year the Consumer Product Safety Commission will roll out one of the most significant changes to import safety compliance in years. Starting July 8, 2026, electronic filing of product safety certificate data will become mandatory at the time of entry into the United States. Compliance headaches and potential cargo holds await importers who fail to prepare for this mandate.

Supply Chain Due Diligence. Rapidly evolving regulations and increasingly complex global supply chains are placing growing pressure on companies seeking to meet the demand for sustainably and ethically produced home furnishings. Several Summit sessions focus on supply chain due diligence, from updates impacting the lumber industry to new testing that can verify the origin of cotton. Attendees will also hear about new automated practices that promise to streamline compliance record-keeping.

In addition to spotlighting these compelling topics, AHFA is honored to welcome Nancy Beck, principal deputy assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, as its Summit keynote presenter. A former American Chemistry Council executive and a member of the first Trump administration, Beck is one of the most senior officials at the EPA today. She has direct oversight of the agency’s final risk assessment for formaldehyde, which will impact both upholstered furniture and case goods. She will offer her perspective on the “new EPA” and its regulatory plan for the coming year.

“The most relevant regulatory developments are on this agenda, along with unmatched insights into organizing and prioritizing the compliance function at your company,” Perdue states. “The regulatory environment that is on our horizon demands a higher level of understanding, expertise and dedication from our industry. The Summit is where that journey begins.”

Registration is $1,225 and includes a light breakfast and lunch both days, as well as a reception following the Wednesday, August 20, program. Executives from AHFA member companies should consult the online registration form for applicable member discounts.