Rhode Island Postpones Amended Ban on Toxic Flame Retardants in Furniture and Bedding Products

Rhode Island has amended and postponed from 1 July 2019 to 1 January 2020 a comprehensive ban originally adopted in 2017 on toxic flame retardants in certain consumer products. Specifically, beginning on 1 January 2020 no manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer may manufacture, knowingly sell, offer or sale, or distribute for use state-wide any residential upholstered furniture or bedding that contains 1,000 ppm or more of any organohalogen flame retardant chemical. Organohalogen flame retardants include any chemical containing the element bromine or chlorine bonded to carbon that is added to a plastic, foam, fabric or textile.

The 1,000 ppm threshold represents a substantial increase from the initially adopted 100 ppm limit and aligns Rhode Island’s restrictions with those of various other U.S. states. Rhode Island is also exempting from these restrictions internal electric and electronic components of residential upholstered furniture and bedding as well as residential furniture or bedding sold for use in commercial or public spaces.