Lumber Liquidators settles with CARB over flooring imports

Hardwood flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators has reached an agreement with the California Air Resources Board to resolve a previously disclosed inquiry regarding certain laminate flooring products sourced from China.    Hardwood flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators has reached an agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to resolve a previously disclosed inquiry regarding certain non-compliant laminate flooring products sourced from China. 
   The Virginia-based company has not sold these products since May 2015. 
   In its agreement with CARB, Lumber Liquidators will implement various voluntary compliance procedures to ensure that all of its flooring products comply with CARB’s formaldehyde standards, which are the most stringent in the country. Lumber Liquidators will also pay $2.5 million to CARB, of which $1.5 million was accrued in 2015, to resolve the matter. 
   The importer and CARB also committed to collaborate on a new testing program designed to create best practices and protocols for testing flooring products. “This program will set a new standard for the industry and ensure that all products are tested appropriately and consistently on behalf of consumers and businesses,” Lumber Liquidators said.
   John Presley, chief executive officer of the company said, the settlement will “go a long way in helping us to execute our strategy, which includes rebuilding our brand and communicating – with clarity and candor – the value of our products to our customers and stakeholders.”
   Lumber Liquidators operates more than 370 retail outlets across North America.