by State labeling rules ensuring the sale of hygienic products now also apply to products sold online
SALT LAKE CITY — New law label requirements for bedding and upholstered furniture and quilted clothing products take effect Jan. 1 in the state of Utah.
Currently manufacturers and retailers selling products in the state must label these products in a way that lets consumers know they are made with hygienically clean materials such as cotton, wool and down as well as man-made or synthetic fibers.
The law going into effect this week also requires manufacturers and retailers to make these law labels available to consumers online prior to purchase. In addition to bedding and furniture, it also applies to other stuffed articles such as mattress pads and pillows.
A Dec. 22 email alert from Serta Simmons Bedding said that between Jan. 1 and June 1 the state of Utah may audit websites and notify sellers of violations without penalties. However, it said that after that point, the state will fine sellers that do not comply with the law, also known as Utah Amin. Code 70-101-12.
According to a notice on the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food website, such laws requiring the tagging of products and licensing of manufacturers were enacted to protect manufacturers from unscrupulous competitors that use unsafe or unhygienic materials in order to sell at lower costs. They also aim to inform consumers about the quality, condition and content of the filling materials in bedding, furniture and clothing they purchase.
In addition to making sure that the products are made with hygienically clean materials, the law label requirements also provide consumers information about materials that may cause allergies.
Additional information about online labeling and required law label formats can be found here.
