EU formaldehyde restriction: companies should prepare now for the 6 August 2026 deadline

08 July 2026

The EU formaldehyde restriction will start applying on 6 August 2026 to furniture, wood-based articles and other articles intended for indoor use. As a REACH restriction with European Economic Area (EEA) relevance, it will apply in a harmonised way across the 27 EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Companies placing these articles on the EU/EEA market should use the coming weeks to confirm whether their products are in scope and ensure they can meet the new emission limits.

The restriction was introduced by the European Commission through Regulation (EU) 2023/1464, which amended Annex XVII of REACH with a new entry on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances. It aims to reduce indoor exposure by setting harmonised emission limits for a broad range of articles.

When does the EU formaldehyde restriction apply?

6 August 2026: the restriction applies to furniture and wood-based articles, as well as other articles intended for indoor use that are placed on the EU/EEA market.
6 August 2027: the restriction applies to road vehicle interiors, giving the automotive sector an additional one-year transition period.

What are the formaldehyde emission limits?

From 6 August 2026, relevant articles placed on the EU/EEA market must comply with the following formaldehyde emission limits:

0.062 mg/m³ for furniture and wood-based articles
0.080 mg/m³ for other articles intended for indoor use

For road vehicle interiors, the applicable limit will be 0.062 mg/m³ from 6 August 2027.

Where can I find guidance materials?

ECHA has published technical guidelines to support companies in measuring formaldehyde releases from articles and formaldehyde concentrations inside vehicles. It has also made available a dedicated Questions and Answers covering practical implementation issues, including scope, testing methods, furniture and complex products, placing on the market, exemptions, vehicles and spare parts.

What should companies do before the 6 August 2026 deadline?

Affected operators should review the scope of the restriction, assess whether their articles are covered, and check that the necessary testing and compliance measures are in place. Companies active in the automotive sector should also take account of the separate 6 August 2027 deadline for road vehicle interiors.

For further reading

For any questions on the EU formaldehyde restriction or its implementation, please contact the Formacare Secretariat.