CANFER Certification

SERVICES

Regulations
On July 7, 2021, the final Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The new law will enter into force on January 7, 2023. 

The regulations place limits on the amount of formaldehyde that composite wood products can emit. Further to the requirements to meet emission limits, the regulations would impose requirements on industry for record keeping, labelling, and reporting.

Prohibitions
From January 7, 2023, import or sale of composite wood products containing formaldehyde shall be prohibited unless:
Emissions are below applicable limits;
Declarations of Certification are retained;
Self-identification reports are submitted

Applicable Product Scope
(a) Composite Wood Products (CWPS)
Particleboard (PB)
Hardwood Plywood (HWPW)
Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
Laminated Products(LP)
(b) Finished Goods Component Parts that incorporate a composite wood product


Formaldehyde Emission limits
(a) for hardwood plywood, 0.05 ppm;
(b) for particleboard, 0.09 ppm;
(c) for medium-density fibreboard, 0.11 ppm;
(d) for thin medium-density fibreboard, 0.13 ppm; and
(e) for a laminated product, 0.05 ppm.

Testing
There are 2 types of testing to check emissions from composite wood panels and laminated products
(a) Primary Testing
4 times per year 
ASM E1333 ( or equivalent ASTM D6007)
(b) QC Testing
Frequency based on production 
Variety of test methods may be used
Must be correlated to ASTM E1333 (or equivalent ASTM D6007) 

Testing is not required for finished goods or LPs that use NAF or phenol-formaldehyde resins to glue veneer to core

Certification
(a) Certification by third-party certifier (TPC) required for panels and LPs
Panels within finished goods must be certified
For LPs that use NAF or phenol-formaldehyde resin to attach the veneer, only the core panels require certification

(b) Accepted certification
TSCA Title VI certification
CANFER certification (under these Regulations)

(c) Ongoing verification by TPC required to maintain certification

CANFER Certification
(a) TPC verification
Emission limits not exceeded from primary and QC tests
(b) If applicable: 
Qualification of NAF / ULEF reduced-frequency testing
Equivalence of ASTM D6007 to ASTM E1333

Correlation of QC test methodology to ASTM E1333


Declaration of Certification (DoC)
Produced by panel manufacturer upon TPC certification 
Contents:
– Name of TPC (or TPC number assigned by U.S. EPA)
– TPC contact information
– List of certified product types
– Date of certification

Labelling

Compliance statement can be one of the following: 1. CANFER compliant / conforme au CANFER 2. TSCA Title VI compliant / conforme au titre VI de la TSCA 3. TSCA Title VI certified / certifié conformément au titre VI de la TSCA 
Optional label statements for NAF or ULEF resins • Manufacturers/importers must ensure label is affixed to CWPs 
Sellers who purchase CWPs from manufacturer/importer do not need to affix label as long as they make information available.

Record Keeping
Relevant information and documents in the records must be retained for 5 years.

Reporting
No annual reports 
One-time self-identification report: 
– Manufacturers, importers and sellers 
– Contact information and role (i.e. manufacturing, importing and/or selling; panels, finished goods and/or component parts) 
– Due within 60 days of coming into force date or when manufacturing, importing and/or selling begins 
– Updates required if information changes 
Non-compliant lots that are sold to be notified to customer and government


Source:https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/other-chemical-substances-interest/formaldehyde.html

See Latest News on Canadian Regulations of Formaldehyde Emission from Composite Wood Products


ICTT, as a third-party certification body accredited by the U.S. EPA & CARB, also has ISO/IEC 17025 qualification in its laboratory, which meets the requirements of the Canadian "Formaldehyde Emission from Composite Wood Products Regulations" for laboratories and certification bodies, and can provide manufacturers with testing, verification and certification services in compliance with Canadian regulations.

Need help or have a question? info@icttglobal.org