The City of Anchorage has recently codified its Ordinance on flame retardants in certain products. The restrictions will become effective on January 1, 2020.
The city of Anchorage in the US state of Alaska has recently codified its Ordinance AO No. 2019-15(S), as amended, on restricting flame retardants (FRs) in juvenile products, upholstered furniture and reupholstered furniture.
In March 2019, the Anchorage Assembly passed and approved Ordinance No, 2019-15(S), as amended, to regulate FRs in juvenile products, upholstered furniture and reupholstered furniture. The Ordinance amends the Anchorage Municipal Code by adding a completely new Chapter 15.100, Consumer Products, and a new section to restrict flame retardants in these products.
According to the definitions in the new law, an FR chemical and juvenile product have the following meaning:
Flame-retardant chemical means:
- A halogenated, organophosphorus, organonitrogen or nanoscale chemical
- Mixtures of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (Penta-BDE, Octa-BDE and Deca-BDE) or Deca-BDE (CAS 1163-19-5)
- Antimony (CAS 7440-36-0)
- A chemical defined as a ‘designated chemical’ under section 105440 of the California Health and Safety Code
- A flame-retardant chemical under Washington State Department of Ecology’s Chemicals of High Concern to Children List (CHCC list)
- Juvenile product means a new product designed for residential use for children under 12 years of age
- Juvenile products
- Upholstered furniture
- Reupholstered furniture
- Child or infant restraint systems, clothing or toys
- Products purchased or acquired by a retailer before January 1, 2020
- Products with a valid waiver
- Products that are not primarily intended for use in the home, such as products or components for vehicles
- Electronic products, electronic components of ‘regulated products’ or their casings
Per the Anchorage Ordinance, upholstered furniture and reupholstered furniture, excluding juvenile products, which would be required to have a label under the California Business & Professions Code § 19094 (California Technical Bulletin 117-2013), are required to have the same label/statement affixed to these products.
Highlights of the restrictions in the new Code of Ordinances are summarized in Table 1.
| Anchorage, Alaska, Code of Ordinances, Title 15 – Environmental Protection Chapter 15.100 – Consumer Products Section 15.100.010 ‘Flame Retardant Chemicals – Prohibition’ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance | Scope* | Requirement | Effective Date |
| Flame retardants (FRs) | ≤ 1,000 ppm each FR | January 1, 2020 | |
| *The following are exempt: | |||
Table 1
Anchorage joins a host of jurisdictions in the US regulating flame retardants in consumer products, including California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, San Francisco, Vermont, Washington and Washington D.C.
SGS is committed to providing information about developments in regulations for consumer products as complimentary services. Through a global network of laboratories, SGS provides a wide range of services including physical/mechanical testing, analytical testing and consultancy work for technical and non-technical parameters applicable to a comprehensive range of consumer products. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
Next step
Stakeholders are advised to comply with the latest flame-retardant requirements for the city of Anchorage, Alaska.
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