G/TBT/N/USA/827/Rev.4  
31 March 2022  
(22-2611) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Revision  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if diffe rent from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [  ],3.2 [  ],7.2 [  ], 
other  :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading.  ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  
Formaldehyde emissions, composite wood products (ICS code(s): 03.120; 13.020; 
79.020)  
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:  Voluntary 
Consensus Standards Update; Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood 
Products; (11 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Proposed rule - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
proposing t o update the incorporation by reference of several voluntary consensus 
standards in the Agency's formaldehyde standards for composite wood products 
regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that have since been updated, 
superseded, or withd rawn by the issuing organizations. In addition, EPA is proposing to 
address remote inspections for third -party certifiers (TPCs) required to conduct on -site 
inspections in the event of unsafe conditions such as the on -going COVID -19 pandemic 
or other unsaf e conditions such as natural disasters, outbreaks, political unrest, and 
epidemics. Finally, EPA is proposing certain technical corrections and conforming changes 
including updating standards within the definitions section, clarifying language as it relate s 
to production, and creating greater flexibilities for the third -party certification process.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; Protection of 
human health or safety; Protection of the environment; Quality requirements   G/TBT/N/USA/827/Rev.4  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:  87 Federal Register (FR) 17963, 29 March 2022; Title 40 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 770:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2022-03-29/html/2022 -06149.htm  
https://www.govin fo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2022-03-29/pdf/2022 -06149.pdf  
This proposed rule is identified by Docket Number EPA -HQ-OPPT-2017-0245. The Docket 
Folder is available from Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA -HQ-
OPPT-2017-0245/document  and provides access to primary and supporting documents as 
well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by 
searching the Docket Number. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit 
comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point  by or before 4pm Eastern Time  on 28 April 2022. 
Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their 
stakeholders will be shared with the regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket  on 
Regulations.gov if received within the comment period.  
Previous actions notified under the symbol G/TBT/N/USA/827  are identified by docket 
numbers EPA -HQ-OPPT-2012-0018, EPA -HQ-OPPT-2018-0174 and EPA -HQ-OPPT-2019-
0456; primary and supporting documents for those actions as well as comments received 
are accessible from Regulations.gov  at: 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA -HQ-OPPT-2012-0018/document ; 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA -HQ-OPPT-2018-0174/document ; and  
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA -HQ-OPPT-2019-0456/document  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  28 April 2022  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone or fax 
numbers  and email and website address es, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/USA/22_2440_00_e.pdf