What should consumers be looking for when buying furniture?
Consumers should be looking for furniture which is properly labelled as meeting the requirements of the Regulations. All new furniture (except mattresses, bed-bases, pillows, scatter cushions, seat pads and loose and stretch covers for furniture) must carry a display label at the point of sale. It is the retailer’s responsibility to ensure that furniture on display carries the correct label. Furniture sold as a collection of items, such as three-piece suites must carry the appropriate display label on each individual item. All new furniture (except mattresses and bed-bases) and loose and stretch covers for furniture must carry a permanent label. There are 2 versions – one long, the other short. It is primarily the responsibility of the first supplier (i.e. the manufacturer or importer) to ensure that the label gives the necessary information. However retailers also have a duty to ensure that the permanent label is on the goods when they supply them to consumers.
