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E0, E1, CARB, TSCA: Wood Board Formaldehyde Standards Explained for Buyers
Why formaldehyde matters in cabinets
Kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and wall panels use engineered boards — particleboard, MDF, plywood — bonded with resins that release formaldehyde for years. Emission standards exist to cap that release indoors, and import rules in several markets make the standard a customs issue, not just a quality one.
The standards, side by side
| Standard | Limit (mg/m³) | Region / use |
|---|---|---|
| ENF (China GB/T 39600) | ≤ 0.025 | Highest China grade, premium projects |
| E0 (China GB/T 39600) | ≤ 0.050 | Common export grade from quality factories |
| E1 (EU / China) | ≤ 0.124 | Legal minimum in the EU and China |
| CARB Phase 2 | 0.09–0.11 ppm (by product) | California; de facto US requirement |
| TSCA Title VI | = CARB Phase 2 | US federal requirement since 2018 |
What to demand from your factory
First, put the standard in the PI by name — 'E0 MFC to GB/T 39600' or 'CARB Phase 2 / TSCA Title VI compliant' — not just 'environmentally friendly board'. Second, request test reports from accredited labs (SGS, Intertek, TÜV) with report numbers you can verify. Third, for US-bound orders, confirm the factory's composite wood products are TSCA Title VI compliant, because non-compliant goods can be refused at customs regardless of quality.