The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on Wednesday, has made a formal announcement that it was investigating whether Lumber Liquidators sold products with dangerous levels of formaldehyde. It is one of the nation's largest discount flooring retailers.

Elliot F. Kaye, the commission's chairman, in a call with reporters, said that the company had been cooperating with the agency's inquiry.

The agency looked into the matter following the CBS News program "60 Minutes" report that accused Lumber Liquidators of selling laminate flooring in California and violating the state's regulations on safety levels for formaldehyde products.

The company has disputed the news program's testing methods and has repeatedly insisted that its products are safe.

In order to measure the compliance with state safety standards, California shaves off the top layer of a board and tests the core of a product.

Lumber Liquidators has disputed that state's testing procedures, and has argued that the company's flooring should be tested with the top layer on, the way the products are used in the home.

In a statement on Wednesday, the company said, "It is our firm belief that finished product testing, rather than deconstruction, is the best approach to determine consumer safety".

The safety commission has agreed to it, as Kaye has said that the commission would test products as they are used indoors. He added that they would not rely on California's method of deconstructive testing.

Now, the safety commission will conduct its own testing and will evaluate the scientific research on the risks of formaldehyde. According to Kaye, the process could take months.

At present there are no national standards on formaldehyde emissions. Although the federal Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rules to limit them, none of them have been put into effect yet.