The United States has passed a law regulating the quality of drywall

The lower House of the US Congress has approved a bill aimed at ensuring the safety of using drywall in residential buildings. This initiative was mainly caused by the scandal that broke out a couple of years ago over drywall panels from China, in which toxic substances were found. The law was adopted by an overwhelming majority (378 to 37) and entered into force on January 1, 2013.

In December 2012, Senator David Vitter pushed for a number of amendments to the text of the bill to mitigate its most severe provisions. Thus, he managed to enlist the support of the National Association of Home Builders, which previously opposed the bill.

"This law will allow us to be sure that the drywall boards we buy are safe, and will force manufacturers to take more responsibility for the quality of their products," Vitter said on January 2, 2013. The senator also recalled the serious problems associated with toxic drywall faced by families whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Katherine, and expressed confidence that the law will avoid them in the future.

First of all, the law strictly regulates the permissible chemical composition of drywall, both American-made and imported, and also establishes rules for the disposal of drywall products. In addition, the law obliges manufacturers to mark each product with their trademark.