G/TBT/N/GBR/65  
2 August 2023  
(23-5264) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED KINGDOM  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Department for Business and Trade, Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notificat ion shall be indicated if different from above:   
UK TBT Enquiry Point  
Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations  
Department for Business and Trade  
Old Admiralty Building,  
London  
SW1A 2DY  
TBTEnquiriesUK@businessandtrade.gov.uk  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Domestic 
(household) upholstered furniture and furnishings placed on the market in the UK for 
consumption in the U K. Upholstered is defined as 'wholly or partly composed of i) a fabric, 
leather or other cover material, and ii) a material used for filling, bulking out or stuffing 
covered components; or wholly or partly composed of foam'. Typical products in scope 
include sofas, arm -chairs and mattresses above a certain size. A number of products that 
meet the definition are excluded. These include duvets, carry cots for babies, and scatter 
cushions below a certain size.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Consultation on 
the new approach to the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture; (49 page(s), in 
English)  
6. Description of content:  This notification intends to alert Members to a UK Government 
public consultat ion for views on a proposed new policy to maintain and improve the fire 
safety of domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings. The new policy will replace the 
existing policy, which is implemented by the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) 
Regulat ions 1988.  
The new policy proposes new obligations on manufacturers, importers and further 
suppliers of products in scope. The proposals include essential safety requirements that 
all products must meet, replacing mandatory testing requirements. They inclu de 
requirements relating to labelling to support product traceability and enforcement, and to 
provide information about the use of chemical flame retardants to consumers and waste 
disposal operators. It proposes a new approach to conformity assessment, new  technical G/TBT/N/GBR/65  
 
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  documentation requirements to support enforcement, and a flame retardant technology 
hierarchy to encourage manufacturers to prioritise chemical free solutions. It also clarifies 
and amends the scope and sets out obligations for re -upholsterers a nd suppliers of 
second -hand products. There is also a proposal for a transition period, supporting 
businesses to transition from complying with the 1988 Regulations (the existing policy) 
to the new policy, and an extension to the period of time enforcement  officers can institute 
legal proceedings for a breach of the regulations  
Full details are provided in the notified document.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:   
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safe ty) Regulations 1988, as amended in 1989, 
1993 and 2010 (the FFRs), set fire safety levels for domestic upholstered furniture. They 
were introduced to respond to the increasing number of UK furniture fire -related deaths 
in the home from the 1960s to the 19 80s, as cheaper but more flammable materials were 
replacing naturally fire -resistant materials in furniture making.  
They have not been substantially revised since they were introduced and now reflect an 
outdated policy. Specifically, the scope of products to which the regulations apply and the 
flammability testing regime, which does not reflect modern fire hazards nor the fire safety 
of products as they exist in the home. The existing policy has also led to the widespread 
use of chemical flame retardants (C FRs) as the most cost -effective way of meeting 
flammability requirements and there is concern about the adverse effects to health and 
the environment of CFRs, particularly babies and young children.  
As such, the objectives of the proposed new policy are:  
· Maintain and improve fire safety outcomes for products in scope;  
· Encourage a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants as a means to 
making furniture fire safe;  
· Facilitate innovation by giving manufacturers a choice in how to comply;  
· Facili tate and support effective enforcement.  
This proposed new approach brings the regulation of fire safety of domestic upholstered 
furniture and furnishings into line with the rest of the UK product safety framework, using 
established approaches that are wide ly accepted globally.  
The new regulations will apply UK -wide, as the current regime does.  
Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
1. The consultation document: 'Consultation on the new approach to the fire safety 
of domestic upholstered furniture' – this sets out the details of the proposed new 
policy and seeks views from interested parties; 
https://www. gov.uk/government/consultations/smarter -regulation -fire-safety -
of-domestic -upholstered -furniture  
2. A pre -consultation Impact Assessment – this sets out the anticipated impact of 
the proposed policy on international trade.  
3. A draft of the proposed new regulations: 'The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) 
(Safety) Regulations 20XX'. - A post consultation version of draft regulations will 
be notified at the WTO with a 60 day comment period and 6 months 
implementation at a later dat e. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be confirmed when the draft regulations are notified  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be confirmed when the draft regulations are 
notified  
10. Final date for comments:  24 October 2023  G/TBT/N/GBR/65  
 
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  11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
UK TBT Enquiry Point Trade Policy Group Department for International Trade Old 
Admiralty Building London SW1A 2 DY TBTEnquiriesUK@businessandtrade.gov.uk