Flammability comments needed

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/26/2004 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

The deadline for submission of comments on the "American Home Fire Safety Act (S.1798)" is July 28.

The Home Fashion Products Association is submitting comments to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation detailing its concerns about the viability of a cost/benefit analysis on potential toxicity, and the lack of appropriate testing. Members, individually, may submit their comments, said Robert Leo, Meeks & Sheppard, counsel to HFPA.

The comments follow a July 14 hearing on the bill, which seeks to regulate and adopt flammability standards to upholstered furniture, mattresses, bed clothing and candles.

The bill, according to HFPA, is based on outdated 1998 data mandates and would establish standards that "are substantially the same" as California's October 2003 draft of TB-604.

Prior to the July 14 meeting, a group of organizations involved in some aspect of the home furnishings business that would be affected by legislation sent comments and suggestions to Hal Stratton, chairman of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). The organizations are the Decorative Fabrics Association, the Coalition of Converters of Decorative Fabrics, UFAC, American Furniture Manufacturers Association, National Textile Association, International Sleep Products Association, and the Polyurethane Foam Association.

Comments should be e-mailed to Sunita Krishna at sunita_krishna@commerce.senate.gov.