EU: REACH - ECHA publishes guideline for formaldehyde emission
June 2025 - Electrical and electronics, hardlines, softlines, toys and children's products
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has released a new guideline1 to help measure formaldehyde emissions from articles and concentrations inside vehicles, supporting the implementation of REACH Annex XVII's formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers restriction.
Key Background
In July 2023, the European Commission (EC) adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/14642, adding Entry 77 to REACH Annex XVII to limit formaldehyde emissions:
- For furniture and wood-based products: 0.062 mg/m³ (apply from 6 August 2026).
- For all other articles: 0.080 mg/m³ (apply from 6 August 2026).
- For vehicle interiors: 0.062 mg/m³ (apply from 6 August 2027).
Appendix 14 of the Regulation specifies testing methods and reference conditions.
What the Guideline Covers
ECHA developed the guideline following a 2024 request from the EC, with input from industry, authorities, and labs. Key points include:
1. Testing methods:
- Chamber methods (e.g., EN 717-1, EN 16516) for measuring formaldehyde emissions from articles like furniture, toys, and articles containing polyurethane (PUR) foam.
- Ambient mode measurements (ISO 12219 series) for vehicle interiors, requiring whole-vehicle testing for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) components.
2. Reference conditions:
- Standardized parameters like 23°C temperature, 45% humidity, and a loading factor of 1 m²/m³ for most articles.
- Adaptations for specific products (e.g., toys with complex shapes use simplified surface area calculations).
3. Non-reference conditions:
- Allows using alternative test methods if scientifically validated correlations link results to the reference conditions (e.g., linear regression formulas for data conversion).
What’s Next
While the guideline clarifies key testing rules, there are still some points to be clarified by the working groups. TÜV SÜD is actively participating in these related working groups to ensure practical compliance support.
References:
[1] ECHA Guidelines for the measurement of formaldehyde releases
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