Industry watchers in the US believe chromated copper arsenate (CCA) makers plan to phase the wood preservative out in non-industrial markets and replace it with arsenic-free alternatives, according to Random Lengths.
Congress gave the Environmental Protection Agency until February 15 to report on the safety of CCA-treated wood, but many believe America will follow Europe in a move to limit use of CCA-treated wood. Viable alternatives such as ammoniacal copper quat (ACQ) are being suggested although some say these will prove expensive.
Meanwhile in the UK traders had until February 8 to comment on the ban on CCA wood preservatives in most end uses proposed by the European Commission (TTJ January 26).
The proposal was the focus of seminars held by Arch Timber Protection where delegates heard about the EC proposals to limit CCA-treated timber to sleepers, transmission poles and cooling towers.
David Law of Arch said: ‘Comments have ranged from the short period of time given to make responses to why those end users have been picked out in particular.’
