VOC and formaldehyde regulations for wood-based panels in Europe and other regions

Wood-based panels are important materials for the manufacture of buildings, furniture and other products. Challenges for the wood-based industries are the reclassification of formalehyde by the World Health Organisation advisory board IARC as carcinogenic to humans and the trials of different Europeans states, to regulate the emissions of building products. There has been much progress in reduction of formaldehyde emissions of wood-based panels and other wood products during recent years. The average formaldehyde release of most panel products has been reduced by a factor of more than 30. The release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) concerns especially wood-based panels and other wood products made from softwoods. The undiffernetiated incorporation of natural volatile organic compounds, ingredients of all wood species, as regulated substances into horizontal standards for construction materials would become a threatening for softwood-based products. The implementation of fair regulations taking into consideration the natural origin and composition of wood is a question needing the full commitment of the forest and wood chain. the presented paper concentrates on VOC and formaldehyde regulations in Europe but gives a short view on the situation in the international standardization as well.