April 18, 2008 Act, California Administrative Office of the California Air Resources Board approved (CARB) composite wood products issued by the lower formaldehyde emissions of airborne toxic substances control measures (ATCM), the regulations have been included in Bill No. 17 California . At present, the regulations are on the composite wood products formaldehyde emission is one of the most stringent standards and requirements should be strictly in accordance with regulatory requirements, the factory quality management system to monitor the plant's production process; from 1 January 2009 did not pass from CARB certified composite wood products and finished products containing composite wood products can not gain access to California's "green card."The implementation of the regulations of wood-based panel manufacturers in China and the furniture industry is both a challenge, but also a "once in ten years," a rare opportunity.

    A, CARB regulations Introduction

    CARB regulations implemented in two phases (Phase 1 and Phase 2), the first phase (P1) from January 1, 2009 began to require use of the climate chamber method ASTM E 1333 or ASTM D 6007 test board formaldehyde emission, provides hard- Quality Plywood (HWPW) must be less than 0.08ppm, particleboard (PB) must be less than 0.18ppm, medium density fibreboard (MDF) must be less than 0.21ppm. Gradually from 2010 to the second phase of the implementation of laws and regulations (P2) requirements. The legislation not only on the production of sheet metal factory is required, the furniture factories, importers, traders, retailers have strict requirements.Manufacturers of sheet metal which specific requirements are as follows:

    1, the board must comply with the formaldehyde emission standards

    2, mandatory third party certification (factory should be in accordance with the requirements of quality management system and quality control laboratory)

    3, the product label must be affixed qualified

    4, the factory must produce a statement of conformity to the downstream seller

    We can see from the requirements of the regulations in addition to product testing must be qualified, but also that the factory strictly according to regulations to establish quality control laboratories and quality management system to monitor their own products, to ensure that the factory produced a number of plates are each is qualified.This is the CARB regulations and other regulations the biggest difference is the most difficult to obtain CARB certification point.

    Second, China's enterprises to obtain an overview of CARB

    According to CARB's official data, as of July 23, 2009, a total of 305 factories in China to get CARB certification. 61 of them MDF, particle board has 40, 208 plywood factories (which produce both individual manufacturers are producing MDF PB).

    From the above data we can see the factory certified only a very very small part, and many of the production process simple HWPW small manufacturing enterprises. And get certified manufacturer of MDF and PB, or just meet the CARB regulations most of Phase 1 requirements, such as 40 to obtain CARB certification of particleboard plant, only 14 plants can get a certificate P2 phase, and of these 14 plants There is only part of the specifications of some plant products can achieve the requirements of P2 phase, and some specifications also can meet the requirements of stage P1. The reason for this cause now I believe the following:

    1, time is pressing, the certification body less: April 2008 directive issued by this ATCM to now only a year's time, many companies still do not quite understand this regulation. Also due to receive CARB certification, it must be CARB approved third party certification body (TPC) to do authentication. Currently a total of 27 worldwide third-party certification body (TPC) can issue a certificate CARB, the first in mainland China to get the TPC SGS Guangzhou Branch has qualified in February 2009, is currently in mainland China certification company SGS has only two branches in Guangzhou and Shanghai Branch of SGS U.S. CARB to get recognition.

    2, the factory quality "mixed": from regulatory requirements, we can see that the legislation is one of the most stringent standards for many plants because of their own product quality and management requirements not meet the requirements of CARB or product quality is unstable so did not apply for the certification.

    3, the economic crisis: As everyone knows, the United States is the largest furniture export market, in September 2008, the U.S. financial crisis broke out, many countries in the financial sector and the real economy suffered huge losses. Domestic furniture and raw materials industries followed by the impact of decreased sales of various products, the pressure to survive a sudden jump in business. In this economic environment, any of a factory to come up with the cost a small fortune for certification are considered to be certified to do.

    Third, CARB certification on board the impact and trends of industrial

    The current economic downturn, weak demand Sheng, also coincided with the United States imposed new CARB regulations, wood-based panel industry in China will inevitably be affected. However, CARB certification of the implementation is not entirely a bad thing, it will complete the various related industries in China to promote another "qualitative leap" to promote wood-based panel manufacturers in China and eliminate backward production capacity.

    CARB certification from the factory to get to see, MDF and PB are all manufacturers of quality products, perfect management, the industry is in relatively good manufacturers.From this stage, almost all large enterprises to get the certification, according to market response and SGS company's internal investigation revealed that CARB certified products to get better sales, and prices are high, many seized the opportunity to plant CARB certification In the context of the financial crisis "bucked" to environmental protection requirements must more and more. Enterprises should be determined to adjust the production structutake the good results.So now many small and medium manufacturers of MDF and PB are also being forced to market pressures to improve production processes, for the glue to make their product formulations to meet CARB requirements. HWPW factory production process is simple because the factories in China are still a lot of HWPW the hands of family workshops, although they can also produce CARB formaldehyde emission requirements of the product can be achieved, but because the statute also requires the factory strictly according to the quality of regulations management system to manage, we now have a lot of plywood factories certified by CARB to improve their management. To some extent, CARB regulations that are driving the industry toward standardization of the plate, environmental protection, sustainable development road.

    Under the current circumstances, a variety of technical barriers to trade, re, improve their product quality and management capabilities, take the high road of the brand personality, long-term development of enterprises laid a solid foundation.