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EU REACH Added new Restrictions on Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers

On July 17, 2023, the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers.

In Entry 77 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, the following restrictions are added:

1.Shall not be placed on the market in articles, after 6 August 2026, if, under the test conditions specified in Appendix 14, the concentration of formaldehyde released from those articles exceeds:

The restriction shall not apply to:
(a) articles in which formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing substances are exclusively naturally present in the materials from which the articles are produced;
(b) articles that are exclusively for outdoor use under foreseeable conditions;
(c) articles in constructions, that are exclusively used outside the building shell and vapour barrier and that do not emit formaldehyde into indoor air;
(d) articles exclusively for industrial or professional use unless formaldehyde released from them leads to exposure of the general public under foreseeable conditions of use;
(e) articles for which the restriction laid down in entry 72 applies;
(f) articles that are biocidal products within the scope of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council1;
(g) devices within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/745;
(h) personal protective equipment within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2016/425;
(i) articles intended to come into contact directly or indirectly with food within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004;
(j) second-hand articles.

2. Shall not be placed on the market in road vehicles after 6 August 2027 if, under the test conditions specified, the concentration of formaldehyde in the interior of those vehicles exceeds 0,062 mg/m3.

The restriction shall not apply to:
(a) road vehicles exclusively for industrial or professional use unless the concentration of formaldehyde in the interior of those vehicles leads to exposure of the general public under foreseeable conditions of use;
(b) second-hand vehicles.

For more information please check below link:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/1dc37c16-088a-89a4-bcda-7a1f71d65094
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1464&qid=1691044813745