US State of Utah Amends Law Relating to Bedding, Upholstered Furniture and Quilted Clothing

On March 17, 2016, the US State of Utah signed and passed House Bill 314, modifying the current “Bedding, Upholstered Furniture and Quilted Clothing Inspection Act”.

The amendments came into effect on May 10, 2106 and consist of revisions relating to: definitions, licensing provisions, stipulations relating to unlawful acts, tagging requirements for bedding, upholstered furniture and filling material. The bill also introduces new requirements concerning the sterilization of filling materials.

In summation, the modifications require:
• All bedding, upholstered furniture and filling material to be securely tagged by the manufacturer, retailer or repairer
• Fillings made from a combination of materials should show the percentage weight of each component in order of predominance
• Materials such as: wool, feathers, down, shoddy, hair or other materials, must be sterilized before being used as a filling material in new bedding, upholstered furniture, or quilted clothing. Appropriate rules regarding sterilization methods will be issued by the relevant Utah authorized department

Filling materials may include, whole or in combination: cotton, wool, kapok, feathers, down, shoddy, hair or other material, and can be loose or in bags, bales, batting, pads, or other prefabricated form.

The “Bedding, Upholstered Furniture and Quilted Clothing Inspection Act” offers consumers protection against fraud and product misrepresentation. It also provides assurance regarding product hygiene and includes a requirement concerning allergy information for customers.

The bill requires manufacturers, suppliers and wholesalers (including importers), to obtain an annual license from the Department of Agriculture and Food, before these products can be marketed in the State of Utah. In addition, the bill also covers materials used to repair these products. The license should be purchased prior to the arrival of the merchandise in Utah, or before repair or reupholstering are begin. This stipulation also requires a license to be obtained before regulated products are manufactured within the State.

Companies operating in the US State of Utah should now ensure they are compliant with the amended “Bedding, Upholstered Furniture, and Quilted Clothing Inspection Act”. SGS Softlines, with over 40 laboratories worldwide, can help manufacturers ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide.

SGS Textile & Clothing Services
SGS offers a full-range of inspection, testing, certification, verification and training services for companies working in the textile and clothing industry. We can help ensure raw materials, components and final products are safe and effective and achieve compliance with the regulatory requirements of different geographic markets. Learn more about SGS’s Textile & Clothing Services (www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/softlines-and-accessories/textile-and-clothing)

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full State of Utah – Bedding, Upholstered Furniture, and Quilted Clothing Inspection Act Amendments SafeGuardS. (www.sgs.com/en/news/2016/06/safeguards-11516-state-of-utah-bedding-upholstered-furniture-and-quilted-clothing-inspection)

Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

For further information contact:

Louann Spirito
Director Technical Support, Softlines
Tel: (+1) 973 461 7919
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

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 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world.

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This release was published on openPR.