The formaldehyde limit standard will increase

Recently, some media reported that the National Standardization Management Committee is currently revising GB18580-2001 national standard "The formaldehyde emission limit of interior decoration materials, wood-based panels and their products". In response, Duan Xinfang, the acting secretary of the National Panel on Standardization Technical Committee, said that the current revision plan has been handed over to the National Standards Committee and it can be introduced at the end of the year.

According to China's environmental protection standards, the formaldehyde limit level of floorboards is divided into three levels, ie E2≤5.0mg/L, E1≤1.5mg/L, and E0≤0.5mg/L. Regarding media exposure of the E2 standard that may be deleted, Duan Xinfang responded by saying: “The revised plan is being revised and improved. There are still many uncertainties. The current thinking is: lower the indicator value.”

Duan Xinfang said that the existing standards were announced in 2001 and were formulated in accordance with European standards. In Duan Xinfang's opinion, the existing standard has been used for 12 years, and in this 12 years, the flooring industry continues to progress, and the country's demand for formaldehyde emission limits is also increasing. In the process of revision of the standard, it is necessary to consider both consumers and producers, and to balance the two.

“I am a consumer myself and I also hope that there will be protection in this area so that everyone will not be harmed.” Duan Xinfang told reporters.

Duan Xinfang pointed out that the core of the requirement for improving the formaldehyde emission limit of wood-based panel products is adhesives. With the upgrading of industry standards, based on considerations of raw materials, equipment and technology, it will certainly increase the production costs of some companies. However, as the environmental awareness of consumers increases, the competition among the floor companies will intensify day by day. If the product quality is not up to standard, it will not be competitive in the market.

Wu Hao, deputy director of Anxin Flooring Marketing Center, said that Anxin floor did not use the E2 standard. At present, all of Anxin's flooring products use the E1 or above standard. Therefore, if the E2 standard is deleted, it will have no impact on the production cost of the company and will have little impact on the existing market pattern.

Sun Weisheng, deputy director of Jiusheng Flooring Technology Center, told reporters that at present, the entire flooring industry is paying more and more attention to environmental performance, and companies are striving to develop in a green and healthy direction. The increase in the formaldehyde release limit standard has raised new requirements for the production costs and technical level of some companies.