US New York and Washington States to Restrict Flame Retardants in Certain Household Furniture

March 17, 2015 - PRLog -- The states of New York and Washington have introduced proposals to restrict certain flame retardants in consumer products. These proposals essentially prohibit or restrict the use of flame retardants from the halogen family in children’s products or residential upholstered furniture.

Pre-Existing US Legislation Regarding Flame Retardants

In the United States, the use of certain flame retardants is regulated under both Federal and state laws, including California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. The use of brominated flame retardants is also prohibited in Washington D.C.

Further Restrictions to Improve Consumer Product Safety

Since the beginning of 2015, the states of New York and Washington have introduced bills (proposals) to restrict flame retardants in certain consumer products.

The proposal from New York prohibits the use of halogenated and phosphorus-bromine flame retardants in residential upholstered furniture and mandates manufacturers or importers to certify that products meet a yet to be developed ‘Open Flame Flammability’ standard.

The bills from Washington state amend the Children’s Safe Product Act (CSPA) and related rules, restricting all flame retardants on the Chemicals of High Concern to Children (CHCC) list in children’s products and residential upholstered furniture. The bills list the effective date for tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) as 1 July 2016.

Highlights of these proposals are summarized in Table 1.

References:

- Safeguards bulletin on Washington State Children Safe Product Act CHCC List, November 2013 (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/0...)

- Bill S0745 (http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=...)

About SGS Testing and Safety for Consumer Goods

Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy, for flame retardants (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods/Home-Furnishings-and-Houseware/Testing/Flammability-Tests.aspx) for the US and international markets.

Please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services

Hingwo Tsang, Ph.D.
CTS Toys and Juvenile Products
Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong Limited
5/F, 8/F, Manhattan Centre, 8
Hong Kong

t: +852 2774 7420
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr

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 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.