Which EU rules apply to private label furniture?
Three EU acts do most of the work. The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) has applied since 13 December 2024; REACH has limited formaldehyde released from furniture to 0.062 mg/m3 since 6 August 2026; and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) covers wooden furniture from 30 December 2026. None of them requires FSC chain of custody or the EU Ecolabel.
Who is responsible for private label furniture sold in the EU?
The brand whose name or trademark is on the furniture. Under Article 3(8) of the GPSR, whoever "has a product designed or manufactured, and markets that product under that person’s name or trademark" is the manufacturer and carries the duties of Article 9. The manufacturer guide explains the role across product groups.
The research for this page found no EU safety act written for furniture alone. The GPSR fills that gap: it applies "insofar as there are no specific provisions with the same objective under Union law" (Article 2(1)). REACH, the EU regulation on chemicals, sets the formaldehyde limit, and the EUDR sets the rules on where the wood comes from.
What must be done before private label furniture goes on sale?
Paperwork under the GPSR, a formaldehyde check and, for wooden furniture, the wood records of the EUDR. The GPSR asks for an internal risk analysis and technical documentation kept for 10 years, and for identification, your name and addresses and instructions on the product. The table lists each duty with the act and article it comes from.
| What | Rule | Act and article |
|---|---|---|
| Risk analysis and technical documentation | Done before sale, kept for 10 years after the furniture is placed on the market | GPSR, Article 9(2) and (3) |
| Type, batch or serial number | On the furniture; on the packaging or an accompanying document where its size or nature does not allow it | GPSR, Article 9(5) |
| Your name or trade mark, postal and electronic address | On the furniture; on the packaging or an accompanying document only where that is impossible | GPSR, Article 9(6) |
| Instructions and safety information | In a language consumers understand, as decided by each Member State where the furniture is sold | GPSR, Article 9(7) |
| Name and contact details of an economic operator established in the EU | The furniture may not be placed on the market without one; its details go on the product, packaging, parcel or an accompanying document | GPSR, Article 16 |
| Formaldehyde release | At most 0.062 mg/m3 in the test of Appendix 14, for furniture placed on the market after 6 August 2026 | REACH Annex XVII, entry 77 (Regulation (EU) 2023/1464) |
| Wood records under the EUDR | Names and addresses of suppliers and customers and, where the supplier is an operator, its due diligence statement reference number; kept at least five years | EUDR, Article 5 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 |
What is the formaldehyde limit for furniture, and does it apply now?
It applies now, since 6 August 2026. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 added entry 77 to REACH: formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers "shall not be placed on the market in articles, after 6 August 2026" where the release in the test exceeds "0,062 mg/m3 for furniture and wood-based articles". Other articles have a limit of 0.080 mg/m3.
The recital says the restriction is "applied to the whole complex product". Appendix 14 sets the test: a chamber at 23 ± 0.5 °C and 45 ± 3% relative humidity, with a loading factor of 1 m2 of panel per m3 of air for wood-based panels.
Exempt are articles where formaldehyde is only naturally present, "articles that are exclusively for outdoor use under foreseeable conditions", articles only for industrial or professional use unless the general public is exposed, and "second-hand articles".
Does the EU Deforestation Regulation cover my furniture, and what does due diligence mean?
Yes, if it is wooden. Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 lists "wooden furniture, and parts thereof" under CN codes 9403 30, 40, 50, 60 and 91, wooden seats under 9401, and wood panels such as particle board and plywood. It applies from 30 December 2026, and from 30 June 2027 for qualifying micro and small operators.
The later date applies to micro and small operators established as such by 31 December 2024, "except as regards the products covered by the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 995/2010", the old EU Timber Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/2650, Article 38). The Commission's EUDR page puts micro and small operators already covered by that Regulation at 30 December 2026.
Due diligence ends in a due diligence statement, filed by the operator. Since the December 2025 amendment, the businesses after it file none: "neither downstream operators nor traders should be required to ascertain that due diligence was exercised or to submit due diligence statements" (recital). A downstream operator makes products from relevant products "all of which are covered by a due diligence statement or by a simplified declaration".
Downstream operators and traders keep, for at least five years, each supplier's and customer's name, trade name or mark and postal and email address, and the statement reference number "only in the event that their supplier is an operator". Those that are not small or medium-sized enterprises "shall register in the information system" before placing products on the market (Article 5(2)).
Read against these definitions, a factory in the Baltics or the Nordics that imports wood or panels from outside the EU is the operator for that import, and a brand that buys finished furniture made from covered wood is a downstream operator or a trader. No official page found for this guide spells out the case of a brand and its contract factory, so ask the factory which role it takes and for the reference numbers.
A Commission Delegated Regulation adopted on 13 July 2026, (EU) 2026/2102, rewrites the furniture lines as entries that exclude used and second-hand products, takes aircraft and motor vehicle seats out, and adds: "This Regulation does not apply to bamboo, rattan and other materials of a woody nature".
What does your furniture decide for you?
The material, where the wood comes from and where the furniture stands decide the rules. Furniture without wood is off the EUDR list but stays under the GPSR and REACH. Outdoor-only furniture is outside the formaldehyde limit. A delegated act of 13 July 2026 takes bamboo and rattan out of the EUDR. Each case below names what it costs you.
- Wooden furniture made in an EU factory from wood already covered by a due diligence statement: you file no statement. The cost: supplier and customer records kept for five years, and registration in the EUDR information system if your company is not a small or medium-sized enterprise.
- Wooden furniture made from wood or panels brought in from outside the EU: a due diligence statement is filed for that import. The cost: the statement is the operator's work, and who that is, factory or brand, belongs in your agreement.
- Furniture exclusively for outdoor use under foreseeable conditions: the formaldehyde restriction does not apply. The cost: none under entry 77, as long as the furniture really is for outdoor use only.
- Bamboo or rattan furniture: the 2026 delegated act takes these materials out of the EUDR. The GPSR and the formaldehyde limit still apply.
- Used or second-hand furniture: outside the EUDR furniture entries under the 2026 delegated act and exempt from the formaldehyde restriction.
- Furniture sold with an FSC or EU Ecolabel claim: an FSC label needs chain of custody certification, and the EU Ecolabel is awarded by a national competent body. The cost is that certification or application, explained in the next section.
Do I need FSC certification or the EU Ecolabel for furniture?
Not under the acts on this page. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) says chain of custody certification is for companies that "label finished goods as FSC certified", and that "most retailers that don't manufacture finished goods do not need chain of custody certification". Independent accredited certification bodies issue it, not FSC itself.
The FSC page does not address a brand that has its furniture made by a contract manufacturer and points such cases to FSC's local teams. The certificates guide explains what an FSC claim on your invoice proves.
The EU Ecolabel criteria for furniture were extended. Commission Decision (EU) 2026/66 says they "shall be valid until 31 December 2029"; before it they were due to end on 31 December 2026. A national competent body awards the label after it checks the application (Your Europe).
Which dates matter for furniture brands from 2025 to 2029?
Four dates fall between August 2026 and June 2027. The formaldehyde limit has applied since 6 August 2026. The new Product Liability Directive applies to products placed on the market after 9 December 2026. The EUDR applies from 30 December 2026, and from 30 June 2027 for qualifying micro and small operators.
| Date | What applies | Act |
|---|---|---|
| 13 December 2024 | The GPSR applies and replaces Directive 2001/95/EC | Regulation (EU) 2023/988, Articles 50 and 52 |
| 13 July 2026 | Delegated act adopted: furniture entries exclude used and second-hand products; bamboo and rattan are out | Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2102 |
| 6 August 2026 (passed) | Formaldehyde limit: 0.062 mg/m3 for furniture and wood-based articles | Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 |
| 9 December 2026 | The new Product Liability Directive applies to products placed on the market after this date | Directive (EU) 2024/2853, Article 2 |
| 30 December 2026 | The EUDR applies; the EU Timber Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 is repealed | Regulation (EU) 2025/2650, Articles 37 and 38 |
| 30 June 2027 | The EUDR applies to micro and small operators established as such by 31 December 2024, except for products in the old Timber Regulation's annex | Regulation (EU) 2025/2650, Article 38(3) |
| 31 December 2029 | EU Ecolabel furniture criteria end; the Timber Regulation stops applying to timber products produced before 29 June 2023 | Decision (EU) 2026/66; Regulation (EU) 2025/2650, Article 37 |
Which furniture manufacturers in the Baltics and Nordics name FSC or other certificates?
23 of the 99 furniture and interior manufacturers NordSourced lists name FSC or PEFC on their website, and 13 more name other certificates (data of 2026-10-14). For 2 of the 23, NordSourced has opened a valid FSC or PEFC certificate document. A name on a website is a claim; check the certificate as the certificates guide explains.
| Manufacturer | Country | Certificates named on its website | Valid document opened by NordSourced |
|---|---|---|---|
| iSauna | Estonia | FSC | Not opened |
| Palmako | Estonia | FSC, PEFC | Not opened |
| Skarvin | Estonia | FSC | Not opened |
| Tarmeko | Estonia | FSC | Not opened |
| Thuka | Estonia | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, FSC, PEFC | Not opened |
| Wermo | Estonia | FSC | Not opened |
| Huonekalutehdas Mauno Tuppi | Finland | PEFC, M1 (emission classification for building materials) | Not opened |
| Isku | Finland | PEFC | Not opened |
| Profil-Lista | Finland | FSC | Not opened |
| Senkki | Finland | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, PEFC | Yes |
| Dailrade Koks | Latvia | ISO 50001, FSC | Not opened |
| Roug Interiors | Latvia | FSC | Not opened |
| BALDLITAS | Lithuania | FSC | Not opened |
| Fitsout | Lithuania | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, FSC | Not opened |
| Nordic Idea | Lithuania | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, FSC | Not opened |
| Raguvos baldai | Lithuania | FSC | Not opened |
| Vilniaus baldai | Lithuania | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, FSC | Not opened |
| Nordic Interior Production | Sweden | FSC | Not opened |
| Påskallaviks Snickeri | Sweden | FSC | Not opened |
| Spaljisten | Sweden | FSC | Yes |
| Thrs | Sweden | FSC | Not opened |
| Torplyktan | Sweden | FSC | Not opened |
| Wog Trä | Sweden | ISO 9001, FSC | Not opened |
| Jalax | Estonia | ISO 9001, ISO 14001 | Not opened |
| Lanka ja Muovi | Finland | ISO 9001 | Not opened |
The other 11: Melaja, Piiroinen, Kitman Thulema, VILDETA, Aluwave, Belid Lighting Group, Johpomek, Liljeholmens Group, Make My Products, Specialsnickerier (Dandent), Starsprings Sweden.
The order is not a ranking; the ranked furniture list orders manufacturers by a published evidence score. Licences, raw-material-only claims and other names that are not plain third-party certificates are left out, as on the certificates guide.
Questions and answers
Do I need to register or notify before selling furniture in the EU?
The GPSR asks for an internal risk analysis and technical documentation that you keep, not a filing. The EUDR adds a register: from 30 December 2026, downstream operators and traders that are not small or medium-sized enterprises register in its information system before placing wooden products on the market. The due diligence statement itself is the operator's.
Who is legally responsible for private label furniture?
The brand that has the furniture made and markets it under its own name or trademark: Article 3(8) of the General Product Safety Regulation makes it the manufacturer, with the risk analysis, documentation, labelling and reporting duties of Article 9. For furniture placed on the market after 9 December 2026, the Product Liability Directive also treats that brand as the manufacturer.
What must the label on furniture say?
Under Article 9 of the GPSR: a type, batch or serial number, and the manufacturer's name or trade mark with a postal and an electronic address, on the furniture or, where that is impossible, on its packaging or an accompanying document. Article 16 adds the details of the economic operator established in the EU. Instructions and safety information come in a language consumers understand.
Which language must furniture instructions be in?
In a language consumers understand, as decided by the Member State where the furniture is made available (Article 9(7) of the GPSR). Each country decides for itself, so a brand selling in several countries checks each one. The same rule covers the warnings and safety information in an online offer under Article 19.
What changes for furniture in 2026 and 2027?
The formaldehyde limit of 0.062 mg/m3 has applied since 6 August 2026. The Product Liability Directive applies to products placed on the market after 9 December 2026. The EUDR applies to wooden furniture from 30 December 2026, when the EU Timber Regulation is repealed, and from 30 June 2027 for qualifying micro and small operators.
Does the formaldehyde limit apply to garden furniture?
Not to articles that are exclusively for outdoor use under foreseeable conditions; REACH entry 77 exempts them. Second-hand articles and articles only for industrial or professional use are exempt too, unless the general public is exposed. Indoor furniture placed on the market after 6 August 2026 must stay at or below 0.062 mg/m3 in the test.
How is formaldehyde release from furniture tested?
Appendix 14 of REACH Annex XVII sets the conditions: a test chamber at 23 ± 0.5 °C and 45 ± 3% relative humidity, with a loading factor of 1 m2 per m3 for wood-based panels; other articles may use a different loading factor where that one is clearly not realistic. The result must not exceed 0.062 mg/m3 for furniture.
Is bamboo or rattan furniture covered by the Deforestation Regulation?
No, under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2102, adopted on 13 July 2026, which adds that the Regulation does not apply to bamboo, rattan and other materials of a woody nature. The same act excludes used and second-hand products from the wooden furniture entries. The GPSR and the formaldehyde limit still apply to bamboo furniture.
I buy finished wooden furniture from a manufacturer in the EU. Do I file a due diligence statement?
Not if the furniture is made from wood already covered by a due diligence statement: you are then a downstream operator or a trader, and since the December 2025 amendment they submit no statement. Once the EUDR applies, you keep supplier and customer names and addresses, and the reference number where your supplier is an operator, for five years.
Can I put the FSC logo on my furniture?
Only with chain of custody behind the claim. FSC says chain of custody certification is for companies that label finished goods as FSC certified, and that most retailers that do not manufacture finished goods do not need it. Its page does not cover a brand with a contract manufacturer, so ask FSC's local team or your manufacturer's certification body.
How long are the EU Ecolabel criteria for furniture valid?
Until 31 December 2029. Commission Decision (EU) 2026/66 of 23 December 2025 extended the furniture criteria, which were due to expire at the end of 2026. The label is awarded by a national competent body after it checks the application; none of the acts on this page requires it. The same decision keeps the textile criteria until 31 December 2028.
Does my furniture manufacturer handle the EUDR paperwork for me?
Part of it may sit with the factory. Read against the EUDR's definitions, a factory that imports wood or panels from outside the EU is the operator for that import and files its statement. The records a downstream operator or trader keeps are your own. Ask the factory for the reference numbers and write into the agreement who files what.
Which furniture manufacturers in the Baltics name FSC on their website?
13 of the 51 furniture and interior manufacturers NordSourced lists in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia name FSC on their website (data of 2026-10-14), among them iSauna, Palmako, Skarvin, Tarmeko and Thuka. A name on a website is a claim: ask for the certificate code and check its product groups in FSC's certificate search before you order.
Is there an EU safety standard for furniture?
The research for this page found no EU safety act for furniture alone. Under Article 7 of the GPSR, furniture that meets relevant European standards whose references are published in the Official Journal is presumed safe for the risks those standards cover. The presumption does not stop authorities acting if a product is in fact dangerous.
Where to go next
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (GPSR), Articles 2, 3, 7, 9, 16, 19, 50 and 52, EUR-Lex; text read in the Publications Office (Cellar) copy of the Official Journal. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Directive (EU) 2024/2853 on liability for defective products, Articles 2 and 4, EUR-Lex; text read in the Publications Office (Cellar) copy of the Official Journal. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464, REACH Annex XVII entry 77 (formaldehyde) and Appendix 14, EUR-Lex; text read in the Publications Office (Cellar) copy of the Official Journal. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products (EUDR), Annex I, EUR-Lex; text read in the Publications Office (Cellar) copy of the Official Journal. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 amending the EUDR: Articles 2, 5, 37 and 38 as replaced, recitals, EUR-Lex; text read in the Publications Office (Cellar) copy of the Official Journal. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2102 of 13 July 2026 amending Annex I of the EUDR, EUR-Lex; text read in the Publications Office (Cellar) copy of the Official Journal. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Regulation on deforestation-free products, European Commission. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Chain of custody certification, Forest Stewardship Council. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Commission Decision (EU) 2026/66 prolonging EU Ecolabel criteria, Article 3, EUR-Lex; text read in the Publications Office (Cellar) copy of the Official Journal. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- EU Ecolabel, Your Europe (European Commission). Checked 13 Oct 2026.
Directory figures are counted from the manufacturers listed on NordSourced, each listed because its own website says it makes products for other brands; see how we check. This page is general information, not legal advice. Found a mistake? Tell us.