Composite wood products — including the cores used in many interior doors, wall panels and cabinets — are regulated for formaldehyde emissions in the United States. Two regimes apply: California's CARB Airborne Toxic Control Measure (commonly referred to as CARB Phase 2) and the federal EPA TSCA Title VI rule.
What the regulations cover
Both regimes set emission standards for formaldehyde from composite wood products, typically covering:
- Hardwood plywood
- Particleboard
- Medium-density fibreboard (MDF)
- Finished goods that contain these materials — which is where doors, wall panels and cabinetry come in
The federal EPA TSCA Title VI rule is largely aligned with the California standard, which is why manufacturers commonly reference both together. Buying a TSCA Title VI compliant product generally also addresses the California requirement — but your obligation depends on where the product is sold and who is importing it.
Why this matters to the importer of record
Compliance obligations typically sit with the importer of record, not only the overseas factory. In practice this means the responsibility to obtain and retain documentation, and to ensure the product that arrives matches what was documented, rests on the buyer's side of the transaction.
That single fact is why we treat documentation as part of the product specification rather than an optional extra. If a customer needs CARB Phase 2 or EPA TSCA Title VI documentation, it needs to be requested before production, not after the container has sailed.
What to ask your supplier for
- Which board and core materials are used in the door or cabinet, by component
- Whether the supplier holds test reports or compliance documentation for those materials
- Whether the documentation can be provided for the specific product being ordered
- How the finished goods are labelled
- Whether the supplier can support your importer-of-record obligations with the paperwork you need
Beyond formaldehyde: other common requirements
Emissions compliance is only one part of importing doors. Depending on the destination market and the project, buyers also ask about:
- FSC certification — where sustainable sourcing is required by the specifier
- CE marking — for products placed on the European market
- Fire test documentation — for rated door assemblies, to the standard required by the local authority
- Structural and performance test data — where a project specification requires it
Practical takeaway
Treat compliance documentation as a line item in your specification and your purchase order. Confirm it before production, store it with the project file, and check that what arrives matches what was documented. That is the difference between a smooth import and a container held at port.
Need emissions or certification documentation for a specific product? Tell us what your project requires and we will confirm what we can provide.
Ask about documentation