JULY 2023

Dear Reader,

Another 6 months have passed since we have last outreached to you, and it would be fair to recognise all the hard work that has been accomplished in the meantime. As we are slowly moving into summer, please consider our most recent achievements and activities, reported below. Notably, we draw your attention to our newly launched study on existing alternatives to formaldehyde-based technologies, a new proactive project, fully in line with the spirit of Formacare to invest in science and objective evidence.

The rest of 2023 will be dedicated to continue to foster our network of formaldehyde friends, notably via our communication plans and a new video. We will also continue to advocate for science-based legislation in Europe and elsewhere. Finally, we hope to be soon able to communicate with you all the results of ground-breaking studies addressing the effects of formaldehyde; this new evidence will take a great part in our toolbox to continue to defend the safe use of formaldehyde in industrial settings. If you want to know more about Formacare and the work we do, continue to follow us on LinkedIn and register for this newsletter if not done already.

On this, I wish you all a peaceful and well-deserved summer time.

Yours sincerely,

Lars Eric Johansson

Chairman Formacare

Executive Vice President Industrial Relations at OQ Chemicals

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Formacare welcomes the long awaited REACH restriction on formaldehyde in articles

Today, the European Union has adopted a new restriction on formaldehyde emissions from products and in vehicles. The publication of the restriction in the Official Journal of the EU closes a 6-years process on which Formacare was heavily involved together with industry partners.

The restriction sets limits for formaldehyde emissions as follows: 0.062 mg/m³ for wood-based panels, 0.08 mg/m³ for other types of products, and 0.062 mg/m³ for vehicles. Industry operators have three years to comply with the restriction; vehicles manufacturers have four years.

However, there are shared concerns from downstream users of formaldehyde that the legal text of the restriction does not provide enough clarity to ensure its harmonised implementation. Therefore, Formacare welcomes the announcement of a guidance to be developed by the European Chemicals Agency – with the support of industry and experts, to facilitate harmonised implementation of the test conditions for the measurement of the formaldehyde emissions. The formaldehyde value chain also supports this process.

Formacare submitted input to British competent authorities on formaldehyde emissions in indoor environments

This semester, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of the United Kingdom has launched a Risk Management Option Analysis (RMOA) on formaldehyde emissions in indoor environments, incl. in vehicles.

This analysis aims to identify if a restriction on formaldehyde emissions for consumer safety under the GB REACH regulation. Indeed, due to BREXIT, the EU restriction above mentioned will not apply to the British market.

In an initial call for evidence launched between April and June, Formacare sent input to the British HSE. The submission from Formacare mirrored elements and data sent in 2018 to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for the preparation of the European restriction.

Formacare will continue to follow these developments, in coordination with its members and industry partners established on the British markets.

FORMACARE UPDATES

Greetings from Deidesheim: members of Formacare met for the Spring season General Assembly in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

Members of Formacare were delighted to meet again in May for the General Assembly (GA) of the formaldehyde and formaldehyde derivatives industry.

This year, we had again a comprehensive agenda where members discussed and adopted directions on the regulatory developments on melamine, the launched REACH restriction on PFAS substances, the sustainability performance of formaldehyde products or the Formacare Communication objectives for 2023.

Furthermore, we were glad to welcome Nadir Chagas, Secretary General of ABRAF, the industry organisation of the Brazilian formaldehyde and formaldehyde derivatives producers, as a special guest to our GA. Her venue has helped building bridges across the globe in the formaldehyde industry and fostering coordination on common issues.

The next General Assembly of Formacare will take place in November 2023.

Want to know more about Formacare?

Formacare contracts an independent consultant to perform a new assessment of alternative to formaldehyde-based products.

In this first half of 2023, Formacare launched a whole new initiative: the revision of an assessment of alternatives to formaldehyde and formaldehyde derivatives conducted more than 10 years ago.

This project aims at preparing top-notch data and information concerning the available substitutes to formaldehyde-based technologies for future advocacy and dialogue with European regulators.

To support Formacare, a consultancy firm has been contracted to perform a fact-based and independent review of the European market. This study is expected to be concluded in Q1 2024.

CASE STUDIES

Formacare issued a new video on the importance of formaldehyde to the health and medical sector.

Do not miss the new video of Formacare!

It is available on our website and on YouTube in six languages.

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