Children’s furniture manufactured or imported for sale in the United Kingdom is subject to various regulations, safety standards, substance restrictions, labelling, and documentation requirements. These are intended to reduce or even eliminate the risk of choking, strangulation, fire hazards, harmful chemicals, and other risks.
In this guide, we take a closer look at how regulations such as The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 apply to children’s furniture sold in the United Kingdom.
Note: This article does not cover requirements for Northern Ireland, which is generally aligned with EU product safety requirements.
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The General Product Safety Regulations 2005
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 establish safety requirements for consumer products, including furniture intended for children. Here are some examples of covered children’s furniture:
- Children’s domestic-use cots
- Cribs
- Children’s high chairs
- Chair mounted seats for child use
Producers, which include manufacturers, brands and importers, need to:
a. Ensure their furniture complies with relevant safety standards and is safe for consumer usage
b. Provide consumers with warnings and instructions that are specific to the product
c. Affix traceability information to the product and packaging
Referenced standards
When they exist, you should use referenced standards to ensure that your children’s furniture complies with the safety requirements of the regulations. We found five referenced standards that mention children’s furniture in the title:
EN 716-1 – Furniture – Children’s cots and folding cots for domestic use – Part 1: Safety requirements
EN 1130 – Children’s furniture – Cribs – Safety requirements and test methods
EN 16890 – Children’s furniture – Mattresses for cots and cribs – Safety requirements and test methods
EN 14988 – Children’s high chairs – Requirements and test methods
EN 16120 – Child use and care articles – Chair mounted seat
If referenced standards do not exist for your product, you should search for other product-specific standards to ensure product compliance with the safety requirements of the regulations. You can find such standards on the British Standards Institution’s website.
In other words, the absence of referenced standards does not mean your product is exempt.
Documentation
Here are the documentation requirements for the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
| Title | Description |
| Instructions | The instructions should accompany the product and cover the product’s assembly, installation, maintenance, use, and disposal. |
| Register of complaints | Producers should keep a register of complaints, if necessary – for instance, if they receive safety complaints related to their furniture. |
| Test report | Producers should carry out sample testing, where reasonable (e.g. for mechanical aspects that may be dangerous to the children). If the product passes the test, you get a test report proving compliance. |
Labelling requirements
This section lists the labelling requirements set by the regulations.
| Title | Description |
| Traceability information | The product or its packaging should bear the following traceability information:
|
| Warnings | The regulations mandate the provision of clear and readable warnings with the product, so the user is informed of the product’s associated risks. Note that standards may set specific warning requirements. |
The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
These regulations set fire safety and labelling requirements for furniture intended for private use as described in regulation 3, which includes children’s furniture such as:
- Cots
- Prams
- Pushchairs
- High chairs
- Other types of upholstered furniture intended for children
It mandates product compliance with certain standards, which in turn sets various tests such as:
- Ignitability tests
- Ignition resistance tests
- Cigarette tests
- Match tests
The regulations also set labelling requirements.
BS standards
Children’s furniture should comply with the flammability requirements of the regulations, which reference the following standards:
BS 3379 – Combustion modified flexible polyurethane cellular materials for loadbearing applications. Specification
BS 5651 – Cleansing and wetting procedures for use in the assessment of the effect of cleansing and wetting on the flammability of textile fabrics and fabric assemblies
BS 5852-1 – Fire tests for furniture – Methods of test for the ignitability by smokers’ materials of upholstered composites for seating
BS 5852-2 – Fire tests for furniture – Methods of test for the ignitability of upholstered composites for seating by flaming sources
BS 6807 – Methods of test for the ignitability of mattresses with primary and secondary sources of ignition
Note that more than one standard can apply to the same product.
Labelling requirements
This section lists the labelling requirements from the regulations.
| Title | Description |
| Display labels | Schedule 6 Parts II and III provide the appropriate display labels, which inform of the product’s flammability.
1. The display label specified in Part II contains: a. An image of a lit match and a cigarette and the word “RESISTANT” on one side b. A “Filling materials(s)” statement and a “CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE” warning on the other side It should be used when the product complies with the requirements. 2. The display label specified in Part III contains: a. An exclamation mark, and a “COVER FABRIC NOT MATCH RESISTANT” statement on one side b. A “Meets the 1988 safety regulations” statement and “CAUTION CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE” warning on the other side It should be used when the cover does not comply with the requirements. Note that Schedule 6 applies to all covered furniture, except:
|
| Permanent labels | Permanent labels should appear on covered furniture (except bed-bases and mattresses). Part II (1) of Schedule 7 contains the general information that the permanent label should bear:
Part II (2) specifies exemptions for different furniture types. |
The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011
The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 set requirements for the safety of toys and products with play value for children. An example of a furniture item with play value could be a bunk bed with a swing or a slide.
Importers and manufacturers should comply with the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 by:
a. Making sure the product complies with designated standards via testing, for instance:
- EN 71-1 – Safety of toys – Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
- EN 71-2 – Safety of toys – Part 2: Flammability
- EN 71-3 – Safety of toys – Part 3: Migration of certain elements
b. Providing the following documentation items:
- Test report
- Technical documentation
- User instructions
- Declaration of Conformity
c. Providing product labels, such as:
- UKCA marking (or CE marking)
- Product traceability information
- Warning labels
Timber Regulation (EU) 995/2010
The Timber Regulation (EU) 995/2010 prohibits the sale of illegally harvested timber or timber products. Such products would also include furniture items that are specific for children, such as:
- Wooden bedroom furniture
- Wooden dining room furniture
- Wooden living room furniture
The Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013 sets the enforcement regulations for The Timber Regulation (EU) 995/2010. Note that Timber Regulation (EU) 995/2010 is based on the EU’s Timber Regulation. There may be some differences between the EU and the UK regulations.
If you sell timber products in the United Kingdom, you should exercise due diligence by adhering to the systems specified in Article 6, which includes:
a. Information regarding the supply of timber or timber products such as:
- Tree species
- Quantity
- Supplier name and address
b. Risk assessment procedures to determine the risk of illegally harvested timber or timber products
c. Risk mitigation procedures, unless the risks identified during the risk assessments are negligible
Protective Measures Against Pests of Plants Regulation (EU) 2016/2031
This regulation applies to plant and plant products, with the goal of protecting plant health and preventing the spread of pests within the UK. The regulation defines “plant products” as raw materials from plants and processed products that may spread quarantine pests due to their nature or processing.
Thus, it is possible that some type of children’s products are also covered if they fulfil one or more of the criteria listed in Article 2:
a. The product retains at least part of its natural surface – either with bark or not
b. The product has not retained its round surface due to processing such as sawing or cutting
Note that the UK version of the regulation is based on the corresponding EU regulation. However, there may be some differences between the UK and EU versions of the regulation.
The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019 sets enforcement regulations for the Protective Measures Against Pests of Plants Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.
The regulation sets requirements such as the following for covered plant products:
a. Phytosanitary certificate to confirm that the products are pest-free
b. Plant passports for certain plants and plant products to ensure traceability
c. Regular inspection and monitoring to detect and subsequently manage any pests
d. Quarantine measures to prevent the introduction and spread of pests in the United Kingdom, if necessary
REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006
The REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 sets restrictions on substances used in consumer products, which would include children’s furniture. This regulation is based on the EU’s REACH Regulation but may have some differences, such as the list of restricted substances.
Note that the REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008 set enforcement requirements for The REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006.
Restricted Substances (Annex XVII)
Annex XVII lists substances that may be restricted in consumer products, or certain categories of products (e.g. children’s furniture).
We could not find specific restrictions for furniture. However, restrictions can still apply to materials, components, coatings and paints. Here are some examples:
a. Lead – prohibited from usage in paint, treatments, and coatings that may be applied to wooden products, for example
b. DEHP – restricted to 0.1% by weight in articles, such as plastic furniture parts
c. Cadmium – restricted to 0.01% by weight in plastic products and components, to 0.1% by weight in some paints, and other products (e.g. machinery metal parts)
UK REACH Candidate List
The UK REACH Candidate List comprises substances of very high concern (SVHCs) that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic (CMR), persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT).
If your product contains more than 0.1% of a listed substance, you need to notify:
a. The Health and Safety Executive, and
b. Consumers, and provide them with sufficient information (e.g. the substance’s name, at least) to allow them to safely use the product
Here are some examples of listed substances that may exist in children’s furniture:
- Toluene
- Formaldehyde, oligomeric reaction products with aniline
Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021
The Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 sets restrictions on POPs, as well as articles that may contain POPs. This regulation is based on the EU version of the regulations, and differences may exist between the two.
Also, The Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulations 2007 set requirements for enforcing the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation (EU) 2019/1021.
Here are some examples of listed substances that may exist in children’s furniture:
a. DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) – may be used in paint for wooden furniture, restricted to 50 mg/kg
b. PentaBDE (Pentabromodiphenyl ether) – may be used as a flame retardant in furniture, restricted to 500 mg/kg
Lab Testing
You should have your children’s furniture tested to ensure that it complies with the relevant standards and regulations. Some regulations, such as The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, mandate that you get your products tested. Other regulations, may not specifically require testing. However, you should still get your furniture tested to ensure the substances in the materials used do not exceed permitted levels and to generally ensure product safety.
If your product passes lab testing, you should get a test report proving that your furniture – or substances that are part your furniture – complies with the requirements.
Children’s furniture lab testing companies
This section lists some examples of companies that have testing laboratories in the United Kingdom and claim that they can test children’s furniture against UK standards or regulations:
- Intertek
- SGS
- Eurofins
- TÜV SÜD
