ECHA 2025 - Guidelines for the measurement of formaldehyde

ID 23980 | 15.05.2025 / Attached

Guidelines for the measurement of formaldehyde releases from articles and formaldehyde concentrations in the interior of vehicles

ECHA have published a guideline which explains how to measure formaldehyde releases from articles and its concentrations inside vehicles, following the requirements set out in Appendix 14 of the EU-wide restriction of formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. The restriction starts applying in August 2026.

The guideline was prepared at the request of the European Commission.

On 14 July 2023 the European Commission adopted Commission 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. The Regulation introduced entry 77 to Annex XVII which sets the limit value for formaldehyde emissions to:

- 0,062 mg/m3 for furniture and wood-based articles and 0,080 mg/m3 for all other articles (paragraph 1 of the restriction).
- 0,062 mg/m3 for formaldehyde concentration in the interior of road vehicles (paragraph 2 of the restriction).

The limit values are referred to the test conditions specified in Appendix 14 to REACH. However, according to the Regulation, it may also be possible to use data from testing under other test conditions provided that there is a scientifically valid correlation of test results.

On 15 February 2024, ECHA received a request from the Commission services (Ref. Ares (2024)1162320) to prepare guidelines for the measurement of formaldehyde releases from articles and formaldehyde concentrations in the interior of vehicles in accordance with Appendix 14 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 amending Annex XVII to REACH as regards formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers (entry 77 of REACH, Annex XVII).

The Commission’s mandate stipulates that the guidelines should include:

a) Description of appropriate test methods to measure formaldehyde emissions from articles and formaldehyde concentrations in indoor space of vehicles and examples of data obtained with these methods.
b) Clarification of the reference conditions listed in Appendix 14 and additional factors that may affect the test results.
c) Correlation of results obtained by testing under other than reference conditions. Information on suitable methods to be used for which a scientific data correlation exists between test results obtained under the reference conditions laid down in Appendix 14 and non-reference conditions and examples on how the scientific correlation should be applied to practical cases.

The scope of these guidelines is limited to these three points. Further clarification on the scope of the restriction, i.e., articles covered by other regulations and exempted from this restriction, will be developed by ECHA and the European Commission via published support on ‘Questions and Answers on Restriction’.

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Table of Contents

1. ABOUT THESE GUIDELINES

2. REFERENCE CONDITIONS IN APPENDIX 14 OF COMMISSION REGULATION 2023/1464 (ANNEX XVII TO REACH (ENTRY 77))
2.1. Reference conditions for measurement of formaldehyde released from articles to indoor air
2.2. Reference conditions for measurement of formaldehyde concentration in the interior of vehicles

3. HOW TO MEASURE FORMALDEHYDE EMISSIONS FROM ARTICLES AND CONCENTRATION IN THE INTERIOR OF ROAD VEHICLES
3.1. Relevant test chamber methods for measurement of formaldehyde emissions from articles
3.1.1. EN 717-1
3.1.2. EN 16516 and EN-ISO 16000 series
3.1.3. Other test chamber methods
3.1.4. Derived test methods for measurement of formaldehyde from wood based panels
3.2. Methods for measurement of formaldehyde concentration in the interior of road vehicles
3.3. How to measure formaldehyde emissions in specific cases
3.3.1. Furniture
3.3.2. Articles different from furniture and wood-based articles

4. CORRELATION OF TEST DATA
4.1. Basic principles of correlation

APPENDIX 1: OVERVIEW OF TEST PARAMETERS

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Fonte: ECHA

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