Canada compliance for commercial furniture projects: what to check before a quote
A product document has to match the exact item and construction. These are two questions to settle for commercial furniture going to a Canadian project: formaldehyde emissions from composite wood, and whether upholstered seating falls under Canada’s duty measures.
Start with the product, not a certificate list
As of October 2026. The destination specification decides what applies. The checks below are not a complete legal list and are not legal or customs advice; they show why a composite-wood declaration and a customs question about seating are answered by different documents.
1. Composite wood — SOR/2021-148
Canada’s Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations (SOR/2021-148) say a person must not import, sell or offer for sale a composite wood product that contains formaldehyde unless emissions from every composite wood panel and laminated product in it meet the limits: 0.05 ppm for hardwood plywood, 0.09 ppm for particleboard, 0.11 ppm for medium-density fibreboard, 0.13 ppm for thin medium-density fibreboard and 0.05 ppm for a laminated product. The Justice Laws text we read was current to 21 September 2026 and last amended on 18 March 2025. Ask which board sits in each chair, table, storage unit or casegood, and keep the declaration with that item.
2. Upholstered seating — CBSA measures on seating “for domestic purposes”
The Canada Border Services Agency has anti-dumping and countervailing measures in force on upholstered seating for domestic purposes from China and Vietnam (measures in force). Its statement of reasons says the test looks at the design, characteristics, marketing and pricing of the goods, and that goods clearly designed and marketed for non-domestic use, such as in offices, business reception areas and restaurants, are not covered. The documents do not mention hotels. Give your customs broker the exact product description before you order. FBM Sourcing’s reading guide to the CBSA documents sets out the passages.
What to request from a furniture source
Put the document beside the item number in the schedule. A certificate for a company is not proof for every model.
For composite wood
- Panel type and source by item.
- The declaration of certification for the product type.
- The label statement the regulations name, with the name of the manufacturer, importer or seller and the month and year of manufacture.
- Who the importer is: the regulations require the importer of component parts or finished goods to keep a record of the purchase date for five years in Canada.
For upholstered seating
- A product sheet showing whether the item is sold as a contract or hospitality line.
- Covering, motion function, frame and seat height in the product description.
- The FF&E schedule naming the area where each item will be used.
- Your customs broker’s view on duty before the order is placed.
Canada compliance: questions project teams ask
Which wood panels do the Canadian formaldehyde regulations cover?
They define composite wood panels as hardwood plywood, particleboard, medium-density fibreboard and thin medium-density fibreboard, and they also set a limit for laminated products. Component parts and finished goods that contain them are covered.
Which label statements do the Canadian regulations name?
For laminated products, component parts and finished goods, the regulations name “TSCA Title VI compliant” or “TSCA Title VI certified”, or “CANFER compliant”, depending on how the product type is certified. The label also carries the name of the manufacturer, importer or seller and the month and year of manufacture. Check the wording with your importer.
Are commercial sofas and chairs covered by Canada’s duty measures on upholstered seating?
The measures cover upholstered seating for domestic purposes from China and Vietnam. The CBSA says goods clearly designed and marketed for non-domestic use are not covered, and that occasional commercial use of residential goods does not take them out. Ask a customs broker to review the actual item.
Does the CBSA say whether hotel seating is covered?
The statement of reasons we read does not mention hotels, so it gives no direct answer. The test it describes looks at the design, characteristics, marketing and pricing of the goods.
Does FBM Furniture decide the law for the project?
No. Your specifier, importer and approving authority decide what applies. Tell us the destination and specification, and we check the product evidence before we quote.
Send the destination specification with the schedule
We check the exact model, report and material evidence before we quote.