Stuffed Article Label Guide: Making Sure Your Registration & Label Align

You already know that stuffed articles like pillows, mattresses and stuffed toys need law labels in order to stay compliant. What you might not know is that there are also registration requirements to sell stuffed articles in the U.S.

What's more, the type of registration you pursue will dictate key information that is printed on the law label. In this guide, we'll cover the steps you need to pursue in order to print your preferred information on your product's law label, including MADE BY, MADE FOR, IMPORTED BY, and DISTRIBUTED BY.

Before Getting Started

Only one company's name can be printed on a law label: either the manufacturer or the importer. There are licensing requirements that come with both roles, discussed below.

In addition to the responsibility of licensing, the company you list on the product’s law label faces certain benefits and risks, including:

• Opportunity to build name recognition
• Responsibility for renewals
• Responsibility for fines/violations

A Quick Note on URNs

In addition to a proper license, every product needs a Uniform Registry Number (URN) printed on the law label. A URN is a unique identifier that traces the product back to the location where it was physically made.

URNs are only issued to manufacturers — they are never issued to importers, wholesalers, distributors or retailers (I/W/D/Rs).

MADE BY [COMPANY]

If you want to list the product’s manufacturer on the law label, your law label can say MADE BY [THE MANUFACTURER’S NAME]. This is the minimum requirement, as bedding and furniture laws primarily place the responsibility for the product on the manufacturer.

The manufacturer will need a Manufacturer License, which is a mandatory step in becoming compliant and selling stuffed articles in the United States.

What Will the Law Label Say?

URN 
The manufacturer’s name and address listed on the law label must match the name and address associated with the URN listed under “Reg No”.

MADE BY
Manufacturer’s Name
Manufacturer’s Address

MADE IN
The manufacturing location’s country.

Who Is the Manufacturer?

The manufacturer is the company that makes the bedding or upholstered furniture in whole or in part. This is the company that physically manufactures the product. 

The manufacturer must hold a Manufacturer License to legally sell stuffed articles in the United States.

Benefits and Risks of Manufacturer Licenses

The biggest benefit of a Manufacturer License is that it allows you to legally sell stuffed articles in the United States. Without one, your product cannot be sold in the U.S.

Unless the importer applies for another type of license (discussed below), the manufacturer’s company name and address will be printed on the product’s law label.

Manufacturer’s Licenses place all of the responsibility for registration and ongoing compliance on the manufacturer. However, if the manufacturer neglects to renew their license, the importer can still be at risk for violations and products being pulled from shelves without compensation if the importer is listed on the label.

How Do I Get a Manufacturer License?

Depending on the type of product, the manufacturer may need to register in up to fifteen (15) U.S. government agencies. Our sister company GRS can help you navigate the registration process for each location.

MADE FOR / IMPORTED BY / DISTRIBUTED BY [COMPANY]

If you want to list the product’s importer on the law label, your law label can say MADE FOR [THE IMPORTER’S NAME], IMPORTED BY [THE IMPORTER’S NAME], or DISTRIBUTED BY [THE IMPORTER’S NAME]. 

For any of these law label options, the importer will either need an Importer License or a Joint License.

What Will the Law Label Say?

URN

As long as the factory’s URN is not jointly held with another importer, you are allowed to print their URN with your own company’s name and address when you are registered properly as an Importer. Otherwise, you may use the Joint URN that is exclusive between the manufacturer and the I/W/D/R.

MADE FOR / IMPORTED BY / DISTRIBUTED BY

Importer’s Name

Importer’s Address

MADE IN

The country of origin should still list the manufacturing location’s country.

Who Is the Importer?

The term “importer” is any company that imports bedding or upholstered furniture products to be sold in the U.S. Typically this is an importer, wholesaler, distributor or retailer (I/W/D/R). 

If a company's information (name/address) is printed on the label in lieu of the manufacturer's information, they are then considered an "importer" and require registration.

What Is Importer Licensing?

As long as the manufacturer holds a Manufacturer License, the stuffed article can be legally sold in the United States. However, many importers prefer to list their own company information on the product’s law label. Obtaining an Importer License is the only way to do so. 

Benefits and Risks of Importer Licenses

Obtaining an Importer License allows you to list the importer’s name on the stuffed product’s law label. This gives importers the opportunity to build their brand and enhance name recognition in the stuffed articles industry.

Bear in mind that if your company’s name is printed on the law label, you may be responsible for any fines the product may incur from license or registration violations. If you need support staying compliant, our sister company GRS offers Monitored Services to help.

How Do I Get an Importer License?

There are eight (8) regulatory agencies that require importer licensing, but there are different requirements for each license. Some agencies issue “blanket” licenses while others issue URN-specific licenses:

• “Blanket” licenses — The importer only needs one license, no matter how many factories/URNs they work with.
• URN-specific licenses — The importer needs a license for each factory/URN they work with.

Our sister company GRS can help you determine which type of Importer Licensing you need, and assist with the registration process.

What Is Joint Licensing?

If you want to list the importer’s name and address on the stuffed product’s law label but you want more control over the registration process, you can choose a Joint License.

The term “joint” applies to an I/W/D/R that registers with a manufacturer to sell a specific stuffed product in the U.S. The two companies will apply together, or jointly, for the license.

Benefits and Risks of Joint Licenses

Joint Licenses offer I/W/D/Rs a level of control and oversight over registration, the license itself and renewals. This comes with three important benefits that give you peace of mind about your products:

1. The I/W/D/R’s name and address will be printed on the product’s law label.
2. The I/W/D/R will receive renewal notices, so you can ensure your manufacturer’s licenses are valid.
3. The joint URN is exclusive between the manufacturer and the I/W/D/R. The manufacturer cannot use that joint URN to make products for any other company to sell in the U.S.

There are no major risks associated with Joint Licenses as long as the I/W/D/R stays on top of renewals and other matters of ongoing compliance.

How Do I Get a Joint License?

In Joint Registration, the I/W/D/R will need to register together with the manufacturer. Our sister company GRS can help you apply together for a Joint URN in each of the three (3) U.S. states that offer Joint Registration. The licenses will be mailed directly to the I/W/D/R.

Get the Right Law Label & License

When you want to move forward with your law label, applying for the proper license is the first step. If you need support in getting your license, our sister company GRS is here to help. Set up a free consultation and the GRS team will be in touch.

Want to make sure your registration and law label are fully compliant? American Law Label offers label audits, where our team provides a comprehensive review of your label's format, terminology, and registration with detailed feedback. The cost is $135 per label. Please use the button below to request an audit.