Softlines and Hardlines: U.K. Updates Furniture and Furnishings Regulations 1988

On April 28, 2025, the government of the United Kingdom enacted the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, aiming to amend the Furniture and Furnishings Regulations 1988 (FFR).

The amendments are:

• Remove certain baby and young children’s products from the scope of the regulations (see Regulation 3 for full list)
• Remove the requirement for manufacturers to affix a display label to new products
• Extend the time frame for instituting legal proceedings from six to 12 months

The exclusion of baby and young children’s products from the scope of the regulations is to reduce the risk of exposing babies and young children to chemical flame retardants. The fire risk of these products was deemed to be much less compared to other upholstered furniture, as they are not exposed to the same risks of accidental ignition (e.g., by cigarette or other similar ignition sources). These products should still comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

The amendments also remove the requirement to affix display labels on new products, to simplify labelling requirements. However, this does not affect the requirements relating to the permanent labels set out in Schedule 7 of the FFR. By removing display-label requirements and concentrating all information on a permanent label, this may save businesses money in the manufacturing process and can support the second-hand market for upholstered products.

These new requirements shall take effect on Oct. 30, 2025. For further guidance, please refer to the statutory guidance published by the U.K. government here.

Official source