Maryland Restricts Flame Retardants in Furniture, Mattresses, and Juvenile Products

Maryland has enacted a law that restricts a wide range of flame retardant chemicals in juvenile products, mattresses, and upholstered or reupholstered furniture above 0.1% by mass (1000 ppm). 

The law does not provide a specific list of flame retardant chemicals that are restricted. Instead it defines broad categories of flame retardants such as any halogenated, organophosphorus, organonitrogen, or nanoscale chemicals whose functional use is to resist or inhibit the spread of fire or as a synergist to chemicals that resist or inhibit the spread of fire.

The juvenile products covered by the law includes the following products intended for use by a children under 12 years old: bassinet, booster seat, changing pad, infant bouncer, infant carrier, infant seat, infant swing, infant walker, nursing pad, nursing pillow, playpen side pad, play yard, portable hook-on chair, and stroller.

The law specifically exempts 
• an electronic component or the casing for an electronic component;
• a component of upholstered or reupholstered furniture other than cover fabric, barrier material, resilient filling material and decking material;
• thread or fiber when used for stitching mattress components together; and
• a component of an adult mattress except for foam.

This state law shall take effect on January 1, 2021. On or before Jun 1, 2021, the state shall adopt regulations to carry out the requirements.

To view the law: 
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0447

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