WHAT IS A LAW LABEL?

The purpose of a law label (sometimes called a Do Not Remove label) is to inform consumers of the hidden contents, or “filling materials”, inside bedding, furniture and other products.

The law label was born in the early 1900s to prevent these articles from being filled with things such as horse hair, corn husks and other “materials” the consumer would never see.  It’s similar to food labeling.

Law Labels must describe the filling materials of the article as a percentage of those filling materials by weight.  Example: 80% Polyurethane Foam, 20% Polyester Fibers.

Currently 31 states, and Canada, require law labels.  The products requiring law labels in each state varies, as does the labeling requirements.  Uniform law labels can be produced to satisfy the different requirements of all states.

Law Labels in most states require the display a Uniform Registry Number (URN).  The URN identifies the manufacturing facility which produced the product.  This can be any factory in the world whose products are sold in the U.S.

Law Labels are governed on a state-by-state basis by various departments.  Examples of these departments are:

  • Department of Health, Weights & Measures
  • Bureau of Home Furnishings
  • Dept. of Agriculture
  • Division of Industrial Compliance.

What is a Uniform Registry Number (URN)?

When a manufacturer registers in a state, it is issued a Uniform Registry Number (URN).  This URN  can then be registered in the other states requiring registration.  So, only one URN is needed per factory.

This URN identifies the manufacturer of the products and must be printed on the law labels attached to the products.  Only a manufacturer can be issued a URN.  A single manufacturing company with multiple plants must have a different URN for each plant location.

U.S. companies who import and/or distribute foreign products must ensure the foreign manufacturer has proper registration where required in the U.S.

Be certain the URN on your products, whether you manufacture them or import them, is registered and active in the state(s) where the products will be sold to avoid fines and/or product being removed from shelves.

URN Registration Process

Each state has their unique URN registration process, forms, renewal period, fees, etc.  This can all be very complicated and time consuming.  The penalties and consequences (like fines, having product pulled from shelves or returned by the retailer) can be severe.

It can easily be a full-time job to keep up with the ever changing URN regulations in all the states.  Many manufacturers and importers ensure they are in compliance with all states by subcontracting the URN license set-up and renewals with a company like Global Registration Services, our sister company.

Give them a call today and they can explain how they can help you.  1-312-405-9467

Products Requiring Law Labels:

The following list shows all known products which require law labels.

This does not mean if your particular product is not on the list, it does not require a law label.  If you don’t see your product listed, please contact us for a determination.  It may fall under a product category on the list – or we may consult with state officials if it is something new and different.

Bottom line: if it is slept, reclined or sat upon and it is stuffed, it will require a law label!

Automobile Seat Cushions Laptop Desks
Baby Bath Slings Mattresses, Foundations & Futons
Baby Carrier (Harness) Mattress Pads
Baby Changing Pads Medical Lumbar Support
Bar Stools Neck Rolls / Pillows
Bath Mats Ottomans
Bean Bags Padded Baby Carriers
Bed Pillows Play Mats
Bicycle Seats Potty Seats (padded)
Boat Seating Quilts
Car Seat Protectors Reclining Chairs
Car Seat Strap Covers Shopping Cart Covers
Child’s Car Seat Sleeping Bags
Comforters Sleeping Pads
Crib Bumper Pads Sofas/Loveseats
Cushions for Bedding Stroller Padded Components
Cushions for Furniture Stuffed Toys
Decorative Pillows Trampoline Padding
Dining Room Chairs Upholstered Chairs
Exercise Equipment Cushions Upholstered Dual Purpose Furniture
Filling Materials in Bulk Upholstered Headboards
Waterbed Mattresses, Liners, Heaters & Frames Ice Fishing Bucket Seats

 


States With Tagging Laws: Registration Required

California Connecticut Delaware Detroit(MI) Massachusetts
New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Utah Virginia West Virginia

States With Tagging Laws: Registration NOT Required

Arizona Arkansas Colorado District of Columbia Florida*
Hawaii Illinois Indiana Kentucky Minnesota
Missouri Nevada* New Hampshire New Jersey Tennessee
Vermont Wisconsin
* Secondhand Only

States WITHOUT Tagging Laws

Alabama Alaska Georgia Idaho Iowa
Kansas Louisana Maine Maryland Michigan
Mississippi Montana Nebraska New Mexico North Dakota
Oregon Puerto Rico South Carolina South Dakota Texas
Virgin Islands Washington Wyoming

States With Tagging Laws: New Products

Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Delaware
Detroit (MI) District of Columbia Hawaii Indiana Kentucky
Massachusetts Minnesota Missouri New Hampshire New Jersey
New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Tennessee Wisconsin Utah Vermont
Virginia West Virginia

States With Tagging Laws: Secondhand Products

Arizona California Connecticut Delaware Florida
Illinois Indiana Maryland Massachusetts Missouri
New Hampshire New Jersey New York Nevada North Carolina
Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee
Wisconsin Utah Vermont Virginia West Virginia

Note: this list is current to the best of our knowledge and is updated immediately when new information is received as to the changing status of any state and it’s requirements.

Filling materials glossary

COTTON
Staple Cotton Cotton Linters Cotton By-Products Cotton Waste
Cotton Felt Cotton Batting Blended Cotton Felt Staple
Cotton Fiber Loose Cotton Cotton Felt
WOOL
Wool or Virgin Wool Wool By-Products Wool Waste
TANNERS WOOL
Wool Blends or Mixtures (Blended Wool) Wool Felt Wool Batt Wool Batting Blended
Wool Felt
HAIR
Hair Hair Mixtures Hair Classification Curled Hair
Uncurled Hair
FEATHERS
Feathers Goose Feathers Duck Feathers Waterfowl Feathers
Turkey Feathers Chicken Feathers
QUILLS
Quill Feathers Feather Fibers Crushed Feathers Chopped Feathers
Damaged Feathers Feather Mixtures Residue (Feathers) Marabou Fibers
Stripped Feathers Nestling Feather
DOWN
Down Goose Down Duck Down Plumule
Nestling Down Down Fibers
RUBBER
Rubber Latex Foam Rubber Sponge Rubber
FOAM
Urethane Foam Polyurethane Foam Urethane Foam / High Resilience Polystyrene Foam Beads
Vinyl Foam Neoprene Foam Molded Styrofoam Olefin Foam
Urethane Foam Skins
MAN-MADE OR MANUFACTURED FIBERS
Acetate Fiber Acrylic Fiber Azlon Fiber Glass Fiber
Modacrylic Fiber Nylon Fiber Nytril Fiber Olefin Fiber
Rayon Fiber Saran Fiber Spandex Fiber Vinyl Fiber
Polyester Pneumacel Metallic Fiber Polyester Fiber Vinyon Fiber
MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLE FIBERS
Cattail Plant Fibers Cellulose Fiber Coconut Husk Fiber or Coir Buckwheat Hulls
Excelsior Flax Fiber Flax Tow Hay
Jute Pad Kapok Milkweed Fiber Moss
Sea Grass Silk Sisal, Sisal Fiber Sisal Fiber Tow
Sisal Fiber Waste Straw Tampico Tampico Fibers
Tula, Tula Fiber Esparto Fiber Jute Fiber Palm Fiber
VARIOUS FIBER BY-PRODUCTS AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS
Textile Fiber By-Product Textile Clippings Dry Polymer Textile Fiber of Unknown Kind
Textile Fiber Waste
ADJUNCTIVE TERMS (For Use With Above Terms When Applicable)
All-Pure 100% Batting or Felt Cemented Damaged
Oily Pad Pieces Rubberized
Colored / Dyed Trash Used-Secondhand Waste
Card, Strips, Stripping Comber or Noils Fly Garnetted
Napper Picker, Picker Motes or Motes Boric Acid Treated Molded
Resinated or Resin Treated Spring Unit Wire Spring Unit Coil Spring Unit
Miscellaneous Waste Fibers Shredded
RESTRICTIVE AND PROHIBITED TERMS
Bonded Border Burlap Cotton (by itself)
Fiber Fill Hen Feathers Paper Sheets Recycled
Steel Wool Tan-O-Quill Trade Names Trademarks
Defabricated Fibers Curled Feathers Rubber By-Products Wood Wool
Virgin

 

Note: State regulations vary by product type, so all of the states listed might not be necessary depending on the products being produced and/or sold.

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