An amendment to the regulations governing the use of potentially harmful chemical fire retardants on children’s furniture has come into effect
As reported by Chemistry World, concerns over the impact of chemical retardants used in products aimed for use by babies and children have led to an exemption to fire safety regulations being issued.
With concerns growing in the scientific community over the impact of prolonged exposure to the chemicals used for furniture fire retardants in the UK, the government has been investigating their possible effects on young children, as well as on the wider environment.
According to environmental charity, Fidra, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive estimate that the “UK’s overall chemical flame retardant consumption is estimated to be up to 826,000 tonnes/year, representing approximately 26% of the global total?.” This total is 1.8 times more than the rest of Europe combined.
Coming into effect from 30 October, the amendment will exclude many baby and young child items, such as infant mattresses, prams, cots, car seats, and high chairs, from being classed as ‘furniture’ under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (FFR). By doing so, these products will no longer need to be treated with the same level of flame retardants, thus reducing the exposure of infants to these chemicals.
The update was brought in following work done earlier in the year by the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS), which also investigated the effectiveness of the chemical retardants in reducing fire risks.
The investigations showed that the fire risk of these baby products is much reduced compared to other upholstered furniture, as they are not exposed to the same risks of accidental ignition, by cigarettes or similar ignition sources.
In line with the OPSS’s policy paper published in January 2025, the FFRs have also been amended to remove the requirement for manufacturers to affix a display label to new products and to extend the time frame for instituting legal proceedings for non-compliance from 6 to 12 months.
A spokesperson for Fidra welcomed the update to the FFR, saying: “This move to protect babies from exposure to chemical flame retardants comes six years after being recommended by the [House of Commons] Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).
“Further important EAC recommendations must also be acted on immediately to change the current status quo and protect the UK’s public and nature from harm.”
“Despite these regulations being the most prescriptive furniture flammability regulations in the world, there is no evidence for improvements in lives saved during fires.”
Statutory guidance on these amendments to the FFR can be found here.