Written question asked by Ruth Cadbury (Labour) on Friday, 13 April 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 April 2018. It was answered by Andrew Griffiths (Conservative) on Monday, 23 April 2018 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Furniture: Formaldehyde

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what controls are in place to protect customers from the use of formaldehyde in the production of MDF used for furniture.

Answer: Keeping consumers safe is a priority for this Government. Furniture is regulated under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. This requires it to be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use before it can be placed on the UK market. Manufacturers are required to monitor their products on the market and to take action if they become aware that a product is unsafe. Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to take action against any unsafe goods including removing them from the market.

Secondary information