A law label is a legally required tag or label on new items describing the fabric and filling regulating the United States mattress, upholstery and stuffed article (e.g.: pillows, plush toys, comforters, etc.) industry. Typically these tags begin with a phrase such as This tag may not be removed under penalty of law except by the consumer. Some states require tags on used bedding as well. Laws requiring these tags were passed in the United States to inform consumers as to whether the stuffed article they were buying contained new or recycled materials. This was and still is considered important as contaminated, recycled stuffing material could contain unsavory materials. Many mattress manufacturers such as Sealy, Simmons, and Serta require these tags to be produced in the event of a warranty claim. If the consumer chooses to remove these tags, they should be stored in a safe place along with their Warranty card.

Law Label Lore

The wording of the warnings printed on some law labels has caused a common misconception in the USA that removing such a label under any circumstance is a crime, prohibiting consumers from removing labels from items they have purchased. Especially contributing to this confusion was that originally, the wording on such labels did not contain the phrase “except by consumer”. This draconian interpretation is commonly lampooned. Even the mattress company Serta created a commercial where its famous counting sheep were thrown in jail for an accidental tearing off of the law label, even though by the time the commercial aired, the words “except by consumer” became commonplace.

The nature of the product defect

The severity of the risk of injury

The occurrence or absence of injury

The number of defective products distributed

The appropriateness of such penalty in relation to the size of the business

Other factors may include:

failure to respond to CPSC requests for information or course of corrective action, economic gain from non-compliance, previous violations and non-compliance.

For more information visit www.cpsc.org. To see a copy of the rule, click here: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6940.pdf

• President – Joan Jordan (CT)
• Vice President – Sam Hancock (NC)
• Secretary – Michelle Jack (UT)
• Treasurer – Margaret Davis (VA)

The 2011 IABFLO meeting will be held in Austin, TX on March 30 & 31. If you have any ideas on topics, please post them here and we’ll make sure your ideas are put up for consideration on the agenda!

A free website that allows you to view recent bed bug reports around the U.S. Great for travelers and renters to consult before booking a reservation or renting an apartment. Bed bugs have been on the rise over the past 10 years and the reports are growing. Most Americans don’t know what a bed bug looks like, and they are easily transportable through luggage and clothing. They usually thrive in the cracks and crevices of mattress and come out at night to “feed” on, yes, you guessed it – you! They are very hard to get rid of and can lay many, many eggs at one time. “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” isn’t just a cute saying anymore!

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