subject: Eu's New Policy Affect China's Furniture Exports, Enterprises Need Self-improvement Right The Moment [print this page] The European Commission recently approved the resolution about granting the eco-labeling standard for wooden furniture --2009/894/EC [1]. The eco-label is an EU provision for a voluntary product labeling system, which focus on the environmental for product, and its use and application are expensive and application standard is strict. After more than ten years development, labeled products has gain a high reputation in European market as a high-threshold of "green barriers."
2009/894/EC decided to promote the reduction of influence to environment and human health when use wood furniture, adhesives containing organic halides, nitrogen, C ring, poly-N-C ring, dyes and additives containing heavy metals and additive flame retardants are prohibited. In addition, the formaldehyde emission limits in fibreboard and particle was restricted, and the content that some material including certain phthalates which should achieve R-class and so on were prescribed. This decision was implemented from November 30, 2009, valid for 4 years. Such as DGiant Furniture, Jingme Furniture.
With 20 years development of China's furniture industry since the reform and opening up , furniture production value increased by 130 times, grew 29.27% annual and furniture exports increased by 294 times, increased 34.90% annual. In 2009 the industrial output value of furniture is about 7,000 billion yuan, export of the year is 25.329 billion U.S. dollars which accounting for 25% of the world furniture trade of the same year. And the exports to the EU accounted for more than one third. The introduction of 2009/894/EC will affect Chinese furniture industry profoundly. Although for the EU market, products can be approved without an eco-label if they comply with the existing European Union health, safety and environmental standards, but the eco-labeling would help enterprise to upgrade their products to won a wider range of customer base if they get it. At today's development trends of green products in global consumer market, eco-labeling is becoming the best passport for big Europe market.
Therefore, the EU eco-label of wooden furniture has increased the difficulty of market-possessing for wooden enterprise and the production cost. The Quarantine and Inspection Services suggest that export enterprises need to improve the forward-looking and establish their own product advantages in soonest to be ready for the future development.
