Understanding and Reliably Determining Formaldehyde Emissions under REACH

Are you bringing products to market and need to demonstrate compliance with new formaldehyde emission limits? Or are you already testing VOC emissions and wondering whether existing test methods are sufficient or need to be adapted? The new EU regulation created uncertainties, particularly regarding testing methods and potential duplicate testing.

The experts at Fraunhofer IBP support you in determining formaldehyde emissions in accordance with applicable standards, minimizing regulatory risks, and optimizing testing efforts efficiently.
 

What Does the REACH Regulation Cover?

The REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) governs the safe use of chemical substances within the European Union. Its aim is to protect human health and the environment from chemical risks, while ensuring the free movement of goods within the internal market. In practical terms, companies must demonstrate that their substances and products are safe and comply with defined limit values.

With Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464, Annex XVII of REACH (EC No. 1907/2006) was amended with regard to maximum permissible formaldehyde emissions.

After 6 August 2026, only products meeting the following EU emission limits may be placed on the market:

• 0.062 mg/m³ (furniture and wood-based products)
• 0.080 mg/m³ (other products excluding furniture and wood-based products)

For road vehicles, the following new limit applies from 6 August 2027:

• 0.062 mg/m³ in the vehicle interior.
   

Why Is Implementation Challenging for Companies?

Implementing the new requirements is complex because the test method specified under REACH differs in technical details from established standards such as DIN EN 717-1 or DIN EN 16516. As a result, companies face the challenge of correctly interpreting and evaluating existing test data.

At the same time, a key question is whether previous test results can still be used for compliance purposes or whether additional testing is required. In practice, these uncertainties frequently lead to increased testing efforts and unnecessary duplicate analyses.
 

How We Support You in Implementing REACH Requirements

We analyze your specific situation and systematically assess which requirements apply to your products. Existing test data are evaluated against REACH criteria, and different testing methods are compared in terms of reliability and applicability.

On this basis, we develop an efficient testing strategy that ensures regulatory compliance while avoiding unnecessary duplicate testing. If necessary, we also perform supplementary emission tests in accordance with current regulatory standards.

Our approach provides you with a clear and legally sound basis for compliance with the new EU limit values. At the same time, it helps reduce testing effort by making optimal use of existing data and avoiding redundant analyses. You gain planning certainty for your products and reduce the risk of delays or market access restriction. Furthermore, we support informed decision-making based on validated test results.
 

Special Focus: Vehicle Interior Testing

Determining formaldehyde concentrations in vehicle interiors requires a standardized approach in accordance with ISO 12219-1 in combination with the requirements of REACH Annex XVII. These tests are conducted in our Indoor Air Test Center (IATC), ensuring that measurement results are fully compliant with regulatory requirements and documented in a legally robust manner.