Selling products containing flame retardants in Massachusetts could result in hefty fines

The Massachusetts State Representative recently introduced a Bill called the Massachusetts House Bill 4900. The Bill is called the Children, Families, and Firefighters Protection From Harmful Flame retardants act. The Bill aims to protect people from harmful flame retardants.Under the act, no manufacturer or retailer will be allowed to sell or manufacture products containing specific flame retardants or similar chemicals effective December 31, 2021.The act limits the amount of certain flame retardants in any component of the product to 1,000 parts per million.The act also provides for the following penalties:

Manufacturers or retailers who violate the provisions of this section or any provision promulgated under this section shall be subject to the following civil penalties:

(I) For the first violation, the fine shall not exceed $100 per product and the total fine shall not exceed $5,000;

(ii) a second violation with a fine not exceeding $250 per product and a total fine not exceeding $25,000;

(iii) For the third or subsequent offence, the maximum fine shall not exceed $1,000 per product and the total fine shall not exceed $50,000.

It is not difficult to understand that deliberately adding flame retardants to combustibles in order to slow the combustion rate or self-extinguishing is a precautionary measure.But flame retardants are not always safe.Flame retardants containing elements such as bromine or chlorine are known to produce substances that have a significant impact on human health.Many States in the United States have passed legislation restricting pentabromo-octabde or decabromobiphenyl ether, tri2-chloroethyl phosphate, tri1, 3-dichloropropyl phosphate, etc.A number of other state laws are also in the pipeline to restrict the use of flame retardants.

Want to know if your product contains flame retardants and is in compliance with state laws?Please contact us as soon as possible.