Formaldehyde in new road vehicles 2027 – cabin testing, certificates of conformity and delivery ban | Word/PDF/Excel

Formaldehyde in new road vehicles 2027 – get cabin testing, supplier certificates and internal delivery blocks in order ahead of the new EU limits. According to REACH Annex XVII entry 77.2, affected road vehicles may not be placed on the market after 6 August 2027 if the concentration of formaldehyde inside the vehicle exceeds 0.062 mg/m³ under the specified test conditions. The rule covers, among others, passenger cars, trucks and buses, with express exceptions and conditions.

Digital delivery: Five Swedish working documents and two user guides (Swedish/English User Guide), each in editable Word and searchable PDF, plus an Excel workbook with nine tabs. 7 DOCX + 7 PDF + 1 XLSX = 15 files in ZIP. The PDF files are printable and searchable, but not electronically fillable. Excel is a documentation aid, not a testing laboratory.

Which companies can use the package?

Swedish vehicle importers and general agents, vehicle manufacturers and sub-suppliers, car dealers and new car resellers, quality/compliance departments, warehouse and delivery managers, testing coordinators, and organizations that purchase new vehicles for later sale.

EU rule: REACH Annex XVII entry 77.2

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 amended REACH (EC) 1907/2006. Entry 77.2 states that road vehicles may not be placed on the market after 6 August 2027 if the concentration of formaldehyde in the vehicle cabin, under the test conditions of Annex 14, exceeds 0.062 milligrams per cubic metre of air. The limit applies to the formaldehyde content in cabin air, not a simple total content in a mat or plastic component.

Testing requirement: REACH Annex 14 point 2 states that testing for road vehicles, including trucks and buses, is carried out in ambient mode according to ISO 12219-1 or ISO 12219-10. An older component analysis, E1-classified board, CE marking, or a standard supplier letter does not automatically replace a relevant whole-vehicle test. Check that the laboratory report refers to the vehicle variant and interior materials that are actually intended for sale.

Which vehicles are exempt?

Two express situations must be distinguished: used vehicles are not covered by the special vehicle restriction in entry 77.2, and road vehicles exclusively for industrial or professional use may be exempt, but not if the formaldehyde content in the cabin leads to foreseeable exposure of the general public. Investigate the actual use and application before invoking exceptions. Other REACH requirements or obligations may still apply.

Do not confuse the dates or products: limits for furniture and wood-based goods and other goods under entry 77.1 came into effect in 2026. The specific rule on whole road vehicles under entry 77.2 applies after 6 August 2027. A test according to a method for furniture boards can therefore not generally be used as a whole-vehicle test.

Exactly what is included in the ZIP?

Excel with nine tabs

The workbook has Start, Vehicle, Tests, Methods, Suppliers, Assessments, Delivery Block, Non-conformances and Sources. It helps the business bring together test report and vehicle variant with a manual assessment chain. All registers are empty upon delivery. The formulas check if administrative evidence fields are registered; they are not an approval algorithm.

Tested Excel outcomes: a reported result of 0.061 mg/m³ becomes “Evidence registered – MANUAL REVIEW”, 0.062 mg/m³ becomes “Borderline – MANUAL REVIEW” and 0.064 mg/m³ becomes “OVER LIMIT – INTERNAL BLOCK”. Missing test report or wrong method gives a separate warning. That 0.062 is not an exceedance according to the literal wording of the law is not the same as giving automatic clearance – the report's precision, test procedure and representativeness must be assessed.

Four use cases for businesses

1. New passenger car, 0.061 mg/m³: an ISO 12219-1 test on the relevant car variant has been registered. Forward the evidence to the person responsible for manual review.
2. New passenger car, 0.064 mg/m³: relevant measured value exceeds 0.062. Register an internal delivery block and request a technical investigation and, if necessary, retesting.
3. Missing cabin test: the supplier only has a test of a headliner material. Document the evidence gap; do not claim that the whole car cabin complies with entry 77.2.
4. Used car or professional vehicle: objectively test the special exception and document applicability, instead of assuming that the same control requirements apply to all vehicles.

Step-by-step to internal quality assurance

1. Identify model and intended EU market, first market date and any used status.
2. Assess entry 77.2 and any professional/industrial exception.
3. Request a valid original report according to Annex 14.2 in ambient mode according to relevant ISO 12219.
4. Check that measured results, laboratory documentation and vehicle configuration actually belong together.
5. Document non-conformance, delivery block or request for completion where needed.
6. Make a manual decision and follow up on interior changes or renewed measurements.

Frequently asked questions

What limit value applies to new cars 2027?

0.062 mg/m³ formaldehyde in cabin air during relevant testing according to REACH Annex XVII entry 77.2 and Annex 14.2. The limit applies from after 6 August 2027.

Can I use a material supplier's E1 certificate instead of a whole-vehicle test?

Not automatically. According to Annex 14.2, the control is based on measurement in the vehicle cabin according to ISO 12219-1 or 12219-10 in ambient mode.

Does the same limit apply to used cars?

No. Used vehicles are expressly exempt from the restriction in entry 77.2. Other regulations and responsibilities may still be relevant.

Does the rule apply to trucks and buses?

Yes, affected road vehicles including trucks and buses may be covered. Certain exclusively professional/industrial vehicles have a conditional exception where the general public's foreseeable exposure plays a role.

What happens if the measured value is exactly 0.062 mg/m³?

The rule uses the expression “exceeds”. The exact limit value is therefore not an exceedance in itself, but the laboratory's uncertainty, reported precision, correct method and relevant vehicle variant need to be assessed. Excel flags the value for manual control.

Can Excel release a batch for sale?

No. Excel only provides administrative statuses and internal warnings. The responsible business makes real decisions based on original reports and applicable law.

Are all templates available in English?

No. The five working templates and Excel are in Swedish, and a special English User Guide is included. All seven documents are delivered as Word and searchable PDF.

Are the documents laboratory certified or legally approved?

No. They are editable documentation aids, with AI-assisted legal review as of 12 November 2026. No external lawyer, testing body or authority has certified them.

Related on the Template Store

For the restriction for furniture and wood-based goods, there is Formaldehyde in furniture 2026 – emission certificate, supplier test and batch block. That package refers to entry 77.1 and other testing conditions. This new product refers instead to entry 77.2, cabin air in road vehicles and ISO 12219.

Official legal sources and responsibilities

Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 introducing entry 77 and Annex 14; REACH (EC) 1907/2006; Swedish Chemicals Agency's Swedish guidance on formaldehyde; ECHA's compilation of entry 77. Version 1.0 – source control with AI support on 12 November 2026. No independent lawyer, laboratory or authority review. Consider the latest legal text and testing method before use. The product is digital and delivered as ZIP after separate Shopify publication and file linking.