GERMANY – The 13th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium, held in Hamburg, Germany, on October 10-11, gathered nearly 400 industry leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs to discuss the future of formaldehyde emission regulations and innovations in the wood-based panel industry.

The biennial event, organized by the Fraunhofer Institute WKI, the European Panel Federation (EPF), and the International Association for Technical Issues Related to Wood (iVTH) , featured 20 presentations covering market trends, regulatory developments, and advancements in production technologies.

A key highlight was a joint presentation by Sandro Ciroi of CATAS and Bettina Meyer of Fraunhofer WKI, who discussed the upcoming changes to the European REACH Regulation, set to take effect in August 2026. The new regulation will impose a 50% reduction in permissible formaldehyde emission limits, lowering the threshold to 0.05 ppm (0.062 mg/m³). This change will impact all products that emit formaldehyde, not just wood-based panels.

The speakers also addressed delays in the release of revised guidelines from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Originally expected in October 2024, the guidelines are now anticipated by the end of the year. These guidelines are critical for testing laboratories to ensure compliance with the new standards.

In addition, Ciroi and Meyer highlighted the formation of a voluntary European working group, made up of leading laboratories in the wood furniture sector, which is developing a “Position Paper” to standardize technical specifications across Europe. This effort aims to help manufacturers navigate the regulatory challenges and ensure consistency across the continent.

The symposium also explored innovations in the wood-based panel sector, such as the use of recycled materials and the integration of artificial intelligence in production processes. Despite the challenges presented by the stricter formaldehyde regulations, speakers emphasized the need for solutions that balance consumer protection with industry feasibility.

The 13th European Wood-Based Panel Symposium provided an important forum for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas and discuss the evolving regulatory landscape, ensuring the future of the wood-based panel industry remains both sustainable and competitive.