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ISPAAdvocacy
ISPA weighs in on federal proposals
The International Sleep Products Association recently has
explained the bedding industry’s position on a number of
regulations that impact mattress manufacturers, suppliers and
bedding retailers.
➤ Safety of children’s products ISPA joined a number of
manufacturing and retail groups requesting that the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission delay enforcement of
new tracking label requirements for children’s products for one
year. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act requires
that, beginning in August 2009, manufacturers of children’s
products must place a permanent label or mark on the product
and its packaging that identifies the source of the product and
the date of manufacture, as well as more detailed information
on the manufacturing process, such as a batch or run number.
The CPSC currently has an open rulemaking to issue guidance
on the labeling requirements, however, it is unlikely that
guidance will be finalized in sufficient time for manufacturers
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to implement the labeling requirements. Because of this, ISPA
and the other groups asked for the one-year delay.
➤ Phthalates restrictions The CPSC is considering whether
mattresses for children age 3 and younger are considered
child care articles subject to phthalates restrictions and testing
requirements set by last year’s Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act. ISPA has submitted comments to the CPSC
stating that mattresses should not be considered child care
articles and, thus, should be exempt from these requirements.
➤ Canada’s open-flame standard Health Canada has
requested public comment on whether to make mandatory
a now-voluntary open-flame test method (S137) developed
by Underwriters Laboratories of Canada. The test method is
similar to the 16 CFR Part 1633 standard used in the United
States for mattresses.
ISPA submitted comments, urging Health Canada to make
its regulatory approach as similar to the United States and its
other trading partners as possible.
“In particular, ISPA urges Health Canada to establish
reciprocal arrangements with its trading partners such that
testing and recordkeeping conducted to meet the openflame
mattress flammability standards administered by one
country are recognized as meeting equivalent or comparable
mattress flammability standards administered by another
country,” ISPA wrote.
For more information about these proposals and
ISPA’s positions on these and other issues, check
www.sleepproducts.org/advocacy or contact Chris Hudgins,
ISPA vice president of government relations, at
chudgins@sleepproducts.org or 703-683-8371, Ext. 1113.
Short
ISPA adds Canadian recyclers to directory
Do you know Canadian retailers that want to properly
dispose of customers’ used mattresses? The International
Sleep Products Association has added three Canadian
recyclers—in the provinces of Alberta, Quebec
and Saskatchewan—to its directory of facilities that
recycle mattress components. The directory, which can
be found at www.sleepproducts.org/sustainability,
now includes 14 mattress recycling facilities in North
America. If you are aware of other recycling centers
in your area that should be added to the list, contact
Ryan Trainer, ISPA executive vice president and general
counsel, at rtrainer@sleepproducts.org or
703-683-8371, Ext. 1118.
www.sleepproducts.org/bedtimes