Rhode Island Updates Flame Retardant Restrictions for Upholstered Furniture and Bedding

The US state of Rhode Island has introduced a law restricting the use of organohalogen flame retardants in upholstered furniture and bedding. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) October 19, 2017 - The US state of Rhode Island has introduced a new law regulating the use of all organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs) in residential upholstered furniture and bedding. The new law, H5082 (companion S166), was automatically adopted on October 3, 2017, and it states OFR must be restricted to less than or equal to 100 ppm of each OFR in the listed products.

OFRs are a family of flame retardants that include any chemical containing a carbon-bromine or carbon-chlorine bond (C-BR or C-Cl bond). These are added to plastics, foams and/or textiles to restrict the spread of fire.

Rhode Island has previously introduced restrictions on two flame retardants:
• Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta-BDE or its technical mixture)
• Octabromodiphenyl ether (Octa-BDE or its technical mixture)

The addition of OFRs to this list is evidence that Rhode Island is strengthening its regulatory action with regard to the use of flame retardants in consumer products. It joins a list of other US jurisdictions that are regulating flame retardants in consumer products. These include: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Washington DC and the Federal Government.

The new law will come into effect on July 1, 2019. Before that date, stakeholders should be aware that the law requires manufacturers of prohibited articles to notify persons or entities selling these products about the new measures by April 2, 2019.

Stakeholders are now advised to check their products comply with the latest market regulations for Rhode Island and the USA.

SGS Home Furnishings & Houseware Services
SGS helps companies deliver well-designed, functional, durable and safe products to their customers. They have the furniture industry, regulatory and technical expertise to check a products’ compliance against relevant international standards and/or your own specifications. Using their global network of laboratories, they provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy for flame retardants in consumer products for the US and international markets. Learn more about SGS’s Home Furnishings & Houseware Services [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/hardgoods/home-furnishings-and-houseware]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full US State of Rhode Island Restricts Flame Retardants in Residential Upholstered Furniture and Bedding SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2017/10/safeguards-15617-us-state-of-rhode-island-restricts-flame-retardants]

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For further information contact:
Hing Wo Tsang PH.D
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
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Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

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