The Governor of State of Minnesota has signed the bill SF 1215 (3rd Engrossment) into law to prohibit flame retardant chemicals in children’s products and upholstered residential furniture. The approved regulation remains the same as proposed in the 1st Engrossment(http://www.intertek.com.cn/news-standard_15_2_424.html), except the following:

1. The products covered by this legislation are confined to children’s products and upholstered residential furniture, eliminating residential textile and mattresses.
2. The threshold concentration for prohibition of flame retardant chemicals in components of children’s products and upholstered residential furniture is raised to 1000 ppm.\
3. The effective date of prohibition for manufacturers and wholesalers is postponed to 1 July 2018, while that for retailers is delayed to 1 July 2019.
4. Only four items remain on the list of restricted flame retardant chemicals:

Flame-retardant chemical	CAS number
Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCPP)	13674-87-8
Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP)	115-96-8
Decabromodiphenyl ether	1163-19-5
Hexabromocyclododecane	25637-99-4

5. Product manufacturers may be consulted for developing a report by the commissioner of health regarding flame retardant chemicals. Any information provided by product manufacturers and used in developing the report shall be included in the report.

Note:

• Children’s product: a product primarily designed or intended by a manufacturer to be used by or for a child, including any article used as a component of such a product, but excluding a food, beverage, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical product or biologic, children’s toys that are subject to the most recent version of ASTM F963, or a medical device as defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 321(h).
• Upholstered residential furniture: furniture with padding, coverings, and cushions intended and sold for use in the home or places of lodging
• Residential textile: a textile designed for use in the home or places of lodging as a covering on windows, walls, or floors, including carpeting and carpet padding
• ASTM F963: Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety

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