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.
| 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 | |||