Overview

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a colorless gas with a pungent odor, widely used in textile resin finishing, wood adhesives (urea-formaldehyde resin, phenol-formaldehyde resin), plastics, coatings, and as a preservative in cosmetics. Formaldehyde is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and long-term exposure can cause nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. Major global markets have set strict limits on formaldehyde content or release in products. Formaldehyde in textiles is the most common target of regulation. Japan's Act on Control of Household Products Containing Harmful Substances was the first to regulate formaldehyde in textiles (Law 112). The EU, the US, China, and others have also respectively established formaldehyde limit standards.

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Applicable Product Scope

Applicable Product and Service Categories

Formaldehyde testing is applicable to the following products: textiles (clothing fabrics, bedding, curtains, towels, tablecloths, etc.), leather products (clothing, shoe materials, gloves, etc.), wood products (wood-based panels, density boards, plywood, furniture, etc.), toys and children's products (plush toys, cloth books, textile components, etc.), paper products (wallpaper, tissue paper, packaging materials, etc.), coatings and adhesives, automotive interior materials (seat fabrics, steering wheel wraps, etc.), cosmetics (some countries restrict the amount of formaldehyde used as a preservative), and plastic enclosures of electrical and electronic products (in very rare cases). Formaldehyde in textiles mainly originates from resin finishing agents (such as non-iron finishing, shrink-proof and anti-wrinkle finishing), while formaldehyde in wood-based panels mainly originates from adhesives.

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Limit requirements

Technical Standards and Compliance Indicators

Formaldehyde restriction requirements are based on different regulations and product types.

Regulation/Standard	Scope of Control	Formaldehyde limit value
-----------	----------	----------
China GB 18401-2010 Class A	Textile products for infants and young children (under 36 months)	20 mg/kg
China GB 18401-2010 Class B	Textiles in direct contact with skin	75 mg/kg
China GB 18401-2010 Class C	Textiles without direct contact to skin	300 mg/kg
EU REACH Annex XVII Entry 72	Textiles (from November 2020)	30 mg/kg (CMR Category 1A/1B, containing formaldehyde as Category 1B)
Japan Food Sanitation Law 112	Textiles for infants (under 24 months) (skin-contact category)	Not detected (<16 mg/kg）
Japan Food Sanitation Law 112	Textiles in direct contact with skin	75 mg/kg
Japan Food Sanitation Law 112	Textiles without direct contact to skin	300 mg/kg
Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (Ecological Textiles)	Infant textile products (Class I)	16 mg/kg
Oeko-Tex Standard 100	Textiles in direct contact with skin (Class II)	75 mg/kg
Oeko-Tex Standard 100	Textiles without direct contact to skin (Class III)	300 mg/kg
Oeko-Tex Standard 100	Decorative materials (Class IV)	300 mg/kg
Standard	Grade	Formaldehyde emission
------	------	------------
China GB 18580-2017	Grade E1	0.124 mg/m³ (1 m³ climate chamber method)
EU EN 13986	Grade E1	0.124 mg/m³ (EN 717-1 climate chamber method)
EU EN 13986	Grade E2	0.124 to 0.280 mg/m³
Japanese JIS A 1460	F****	0.3 mg/L (desiccator method)
Japanese JIS A 1460	F***	0.3 to 0.5 mg/L
Japanese JIS A 1460	F**	0.5 to 1.5 mg/L
CARB Phase 2 (California, USA)	Thin MDF	0.11 ppm (ASTM E1333 climate chamber method)
CARB Phase 2	Thick MDF	0.13 ppm
CARB Phase 2	Particleboard	0.09 ppm
CARB Phase 2	Hardwood plywood	0.05 ppm

I. Formaldehyde Limits for Textiles

II. Formaldehyde Emission Limits for Wood-based Panels

III. Toy formaldehyde migration limit (EN 71-9) The formaldehyde migration limit is2.5 mg/L(Simulated gastric acid extraction).

04

Testing Methods and Standards

Core Testing Items and Parameters

Formaldehyde test methods vary depending on the product type.

Water extraction method (GB/T 2912.1 / ISO 14Place the textile sample in40 °CExtract in aqueous solution for 1 hour, add acetylacetone reagent to the extract for color development, and measure the absorbance at a wavelength of 412nm using a spectrophotometer. Applicable for the determination of free formaldehyde and readily releasable formaldehyde. The limit of detection is approximately5 mg/kg。

Vapor absorption method (GB/T 2912.2 / ISO 1The sample is suspended in a sealed container, with a water absorption solution placed at the bottom, at...49 °Cor65 °Cabsorbed for a certain period of time. It is applicable to the determination of formaldehyde release.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)After derivatization with DNPH (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine), the extract is analyzed by HPLC, offering higher sensitivity and selectivity.

1m³ climate chamber method (GB/T 17657 / EN 7Place the sample in a constant temperature and humidity climate chamber (temperature23 °C, humidity50 %, air exchange rate of 1 time/hour), the air inside the chamber is collected within the specified time, and analyzed by spectrophotometry or HPLC after absorbing formaldehyde with an absorption solution. The results are expressed in mg/m³.

Desiccator method (JIS A 1460 / GB/T 17Place the sample in a desiccator with a water absorption solution placed at the bottom, and allow absorption for 24 hours at the specified temperature. The results are expressed in mg/L.

Perforator method (EN 120 / GB/T 17657)After the sample is extracted with toluene, the formaldehyde content in the extract is determined, and the result is expressed in mg/100g.

I. Textile Formaldehyde Test

II. Formaldehyde Emission Test for Wood-Based Panels

III. Toy Formaldehyde Test (EN 71-9 / EN 71-10/11) HPLC analysis is performed after extraction with simulated sweat or simulated gastric juice.

05

Certification Process

Complete steps from application to certification

Formaldehyde Testing Compliance Process
Step 1	Confirm the product type and target market regulations.
Step 2	Select the test method according to the product type (water extraction method for textiles, climate chamber method for wood-based panels, etc.).
Step 3	Take samples and send to the laboratory for testing.
Step 4	Determine compliance against applicable limits.
Step 5	Issue the test report and incorporate it into the compliance documents.

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Required Documents and Notes

Checklist of Required Documents and Materials for Application

To apply for formaldehyde testing, the following information must be provided: product name and model

Product Material Description (Fabric Composition

Sample quantity (at least 2 to 5 grams for textiles, and at least 0.1 square meters for wood-based panels). Precautions: Non-iron finishing (resin finishing) is the main source of formaldehyde in textiles, and formaldehyde-containing finishing agents should be avoided for infant textiles. Among wood-based panels, Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard typically have higher formaldehyde emission than solid wood and plywood due to the use of large amounts of adhesives. Formaldehyde content gradually decreases over time; newly produced textiles and wood-based panels have the highest formaldehyde levels, and storage and ventilation can reduce formaldehyde levels. Results from different test methods (such as the water extraction method and the climate chamber method) cannot be directly compared; test methods consistent with regulations must be used. Formaldehyde test results are significantly affected by temperature and humidity, so samples must be stored in sealed bags and submitted for testing as soon as possible. Formaldehyde is a mandatory test item in Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, and its limits are fundamentally consistent with China's GB 18401.

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