CARB regulations on VOC in consumer products

California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued regulations on limitation of VOC content in consumer products, namely antiperspirants and deodorants, aerosol coating products, hairsprays, cleaners, air fresheners, adhesives, and many more.

The intention is to reduce the amount of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOC), toxic air contaminants, and greenhouse gases that are emitted from the use of chemically formulated consumer products. California ARB reports that its consumer products regulations have resulted in reduction of emissions of nearly 50 percent since 1990. The latest amendments to the regulation intend to further reduce the amount of air pollutants emitted from various categories of consumer products.

• Article 1 covers antiperspirants and deodorants.
• Article 2 is the "general consumer products regulation."
• Article 3 covers categories of aerosol paints and coatings.

Above three regulations affect 115 consumer product categories by setting 150 volatile organic compound (VOC) limits.

• Article 4 is a voluntary emissions trading program for consumer products, and aerosol paints and coatings, called the Alternative Control Plan (ACP) regulation.
• Article 5 is a voluntary program, the Hairspray Credit Program Regulation.

The regulation is complex, therefore you will find a number of valuable links to more information:

• Summary of this regulation
• Text of 2011 regulation
• 2011 requirements (advisory no 425)
• CARB Test Method 310 (Sept 29, 2011)
• Standard operating procedures SOP
• Charcoal lighters testing
• Table: Product groups & limit values

Eurofins services

Eurofins Product Testing A/S offers testing of

• VOC content for non-aerosol products in line with CARB method 310.

Contact to VOC Testing Laboratories

Please see here contact information of Eurofins VOC testing laboratories in Europe, USA and China:
www.eurofins.com/voc-contacts.

Order forms and testing request forms are available for free download here.