US States Introduce Bills to Restrict Flame Retardants in Consumer Products
Several US states have introduced bills in 2017 to restrict the use of flame retardants in a wide range of consumer products. Possible effective dates for the new regulations, if adopted, begin on January 1, 2018.
- (1888PressRelease) April 11, 2017 - Since the beginning of 2017, several US states have introduced bills pertaining to the restriction of flame retardants in textiles, children's products and upholstered furniture. The flame retardants listed in these bills are essentially antimony-based and halogen-containing compounds.
These states include:
• Alaska (AK)
• Iowa (IA)
• Maine (ME)
• Maryland (MD)
• Massachusetts (MA)
• Minnesota (MN)
• New Mexico (NM)
• New York (NY)
• Rhode Island (RI)
• Tennessee (TN)
• Virginia (VA)
• West Virginia (WV)
Each state's bill aims to restrict a specified collection of flame retardants in a defined group of products. In the case of Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York and Rhode Island, the proposed bills will expand pre-existing regulations to cover other flame retardants and products.
Additive flame retardants, Additive-FRs, are non-chemically binding substances that can be added to materials like plastics, foams and textiles to inhibit the start of a fire, or limit its spread. They are added to a range of products, including bedding, childcare articles, clothing, electrical and electronic equipment, furniture, mattresses, paints/coatings and residential textiles.
The range of substances included in the various state bills, include:
• Antimony
• Antimony trioxide
• Deca-BDE - Decabromodiphenyl ether
• HBCDD (HBCD) - Hexabromocyclododecane
• IPTPP - isopropylated triphenyl phosphate
• Penta-BDE - pentabromodiphenyl ether
• SCCPs - Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins
• TBB - 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate
• TBBPA - tetrabromobisphenol A
• TBPH - bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate
• TCEP - tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate
• TCPP - tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate
• TDCPP - tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate
• TPP - triphenyl phosphate
• V6 - bis(chloromethyl) propane-1,3-diyltetrakis (2-chloroethyl) bisphosphate or
- phosphoric acid,P,P'[2,2-bis(chloromethyl)- 1,3-propanediyl]P,P,P',P'-tetrakis(2-chloroethyl) ester
As understanding of their toxic effects and negative impact on the environment has increased, flame retardants have progressively become more restricted or prohibited. In the US, the Federal Government and Washington DC, along with the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, already have regulations relating to the use of flame retardants in consumer products. In addition, the states of Maine, Oregon, Vermont and Washington also require disclosure information on some flame retardants in certain children's products.
With no unified US-wide regulation relating to flame retardants, each state's bill only relates to their jurisdiction. Stakeholders are advised to confirm their compliance against each state's proposed regulation.
SGS Consumer Products Services
Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS are able to 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 Consumer Products Services. (www.sgs.com/cgnr)
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full US State Legislation Updates Flame Retardants in Consumer Products SafeGuardS. (www.sgs.com/en/news/2017/03/safeguards-05117-us-state-legislation-updates-flame-retardants-in-consumer-products)
Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.
For further information contact:
Hing Wo Tsang
Global Hardlines Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
Email: cts.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr
About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 90,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,000 offices and laboratories around the world.
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