G/TBT/N/USA/1301  
 
17 July 2017  
(17-3852) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original : English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member : UNITED STATES OF AME RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved  (Article 3.2 and 7.2) :  
2. Agency responsible:  Environmental Prote ction Agency (EPA) [1321]  
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 different 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 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Wood products 
emissions . Environmental protection  (ICS 13.020);  Wood technology processes 
(ICS 79.020).  
5. Title, number of pages  and language(s)  of the notified document:  Labeling Relief; 
Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products (1 page(s), in English)   
6. Description of content:  EPA is proposing to amend a final rule that published in the 
Federal Register on 12 December 2016 concerning formaldehyde emiss ion standards for 
composite wood products. The proposed amendment would allow compliant composite 
wood products and finished goods that contain compliant composite wood products that 
were manufactured prior to 12 December 2017 to be labeled as Toxic Substa nces Control 
Act (TSCA) Title VI compliant. This means that regulated composite wood products and 
finished goods that meet the required formaldehyde emissions standards could be 
voluntarily labeled as compliant as soon as compliance can be achieved. This w ould 
enhance regulatory flexibility and facilitate a smoother supply chain transition to 
compliance with the rule's broader requirements, as well as promote lower formaldehyde 
emitting products entering commerce earlier than under the rule as originally pu blished. 
EPA believes that the proposed amendment is non -controversial and does not expect to 
receive any adverse comments. Therefore, in addition to this Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, EPA is promulgating t he 
amendment as a direct final rule.  
7. Objective and rationale , including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
Consumer information, labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer 
protection; Protection of the environment  G/TBT/N/U SA/1301  
 
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  8. Releva nt documents:   
82 Federal Register (FR) 31932, 11 July 2017; Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
Part 770.  
Labeling Relief; Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products, Direct 
Final Rule published 11 July 2017 will be issued as Add.1 : 
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2017-07-11/html/2017 -14513.htm  
https:// www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2017-07-11/pdf/2017 -14513.pdf  
G/TBT/N/USA/827  - Formaldehyde Emissions Standards for Composite Wood Products and 
all subsequent  addenda and revisions.   
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  26 July 2017  
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point  [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numb ers and e mail and website address es, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/TBT/USA/17_3205_00_e.pdf