007.04.14 Ark. Code R. 001

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024

Rule 007.04.14-001 - Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Labeling of Bedding and the Germicidal Treatment of Used Bedding

Section 1. Authority and Purpose

1.1 The following RULES AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO LABELING OF BEDDING AND THE GERMICIDAL TREATMENT OF USED BEDDING are duly adopted and promulgated by the Arkansas State Board of Health pursuant to the authority expressly conferred by the laws of the State of Arkansas including without limitation, Act 96 of 1913 (A.C.A. 20-7-109) and Act 1420 of 2013 (A.C.A. 20-27-2706)

1.2 Purpose: To establish minimum standards for labeling of new and used bedding, and the germicidal treatment of used bedding.

Section 2. Definitions

2.1Bedding. A mattress, upholstered spring, comforter, pad, cushion, pillow, box springs, foundation or studio couch made, in whole or part of, new or secondhand fabric, filling materials, or other materials, which can be used for sleeping or reclining purposes.

2.2Department. The Arkansas Department of Health.

2.3Director. The director of the Arkansas Department of Health.

2.4Manufacture. The making of bedding out of new material.

2.5New Material. Any fabric, filling material, other material, or article of bedding that has not been previously used in the manufacturing, distributing, or retailing process or for which the legal title has not been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer to a final purchaser, including by-products of any textile or manufacturing process that are free from dirt, insects, and other contamination.

2.6Person. An individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust, and any other entity and the agents, servants and employees of the entity.

2.7Renovator. A person that repairs, makes over, recovers, restores, sanitizes, germicidally treats, cleans or renews bedding.

2.8Sanitizer. a person that sanitizes, germicidally treats or cleans, but does not otherwise alter, any fabric, filling material, other materials, or article of bedding for use in manufacturing or renovating bedding.

2.9Secondhand Material, any fabric, filling material, other material, or article of bedding that has been previously used for any purpose, including without limitation floor samples from any source other than a seller's own business and factory-returned materials or bedding, or is derived from a postconsumer or industrial waste and that may be used in place of new material in manufacturing or renovating bedding.

2.10Seller. A person that offers or exposes for sale, barters, trades, delivers, consigns, leases, possesses with intent to sell, or disposes of bedding in any commercial manner at the wholesale, retail or other level of trade.

Section 3. Bedding Labels

3.1 Label Requirement. The minimum size of the label shall not be less than 2 inches by 3 inches, but may be larger as need demands.

All printing shall be in the English language, color of the print shall be black on a white label. The minimum type size shall be 1/8 inch in height in capital letters for the "Under Penalty of Law" section and the "All New Material" section. The label material shall be Tyvek, Valeron, Vellum cloth or a material of comparable quality, which shall not flake out when abraded. There shall be no printing on the back of the law label.

The description of the filling materials shall be the true generic name, grade, or definition. When more than one kind of filling is used, the percent by weight of each shall be listed in order of their predominance.

The name and address of the Manufacturer, importer, distributor or vendor shall be listed

Other information includes compliance requirement by U.S. Customs requirements to state "Made In.....". If a product is made in the United States, either in whole or part of imported materials the law label shall disclose these facts.

The label shall be securely affixed to the article in a location which is clearly visible to the consumer.

3.1.1 All bedding manufactured, renovated, sanitized, or sold by a seller within the state shall bear a clear and conspicuous label that explicitly states whether the bedding is made from all new materials or is made in whole or in part from secondhand materials.

3.1.2 The label on bedding made from all new materials shall be white in color and shall state "ALL NEW MATERIAL".

3.1.3 The label on bedding made in whole or in part from secondhand materials shall be yellow in color and shall state, "SECONDHAND MATERIALS". The repairer or renovator of any bedding that is subsequently sold shall affix the secondhand material label which shall be attached to the bedding before delivery to the owner.

3.1.4 All bedding containing material that is sanitized, germicidally treated, or cleaned in accordance with subsection (k) of this section shall bear a clear and conspicuous label that states the following: "THIS BEDDING CONTAINS PREVIOUSLY USED MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND SANITIZED IN AN APPROVED MANNER TO KILL GERMS AND INSECTS AND TO PREVENT INFECTION."

3.1.5 In addition, such label shall state:

The specific methods of sanitizing, germicidal treatment, or cleaning applied; The date on which the article was sanitized, treated, or cleaned; The name, address and permit number of the person applying the sanitizing, or cleaning; and Specifically which materials or articles have been sanitized, treated, or cleaned.

3.1.6 The labels shall also comply with rules adopted by the department regarding label dimension, format, informational content, wording, letter size, material, means of placement and affixing to the bedding, and other relevant factors.

3.1.7 Labels required by this section shall be permanently affixed.

3.2 A person shall not remove, deface, or alter in whole or in part a label or any statement on a label with the intent to defeat the provisions of this section.

3.3 A person shall not make a false or misleading statement on any label required under this section.

3.4 The director shall approve the form and size of labels, the fabric of which the labels are made, and the wording and statements on labels provided for under this section.

3.5 Labels required under this section shall be securely attached to the article of bedding or filling material at the site of the manufacturer in a conspicuous place where the label can be easily examined.

3.6 Labels required by this section shall have printing only on one side.

3.7 Advertising matter shall not be placed on any label or any other printed matter not required by the provisions of this section.

3.8 The following statements and headings shall be shown on labels:

3.8.1 "UNDER PENALTY OF LAW THIS TAG SHALL NOT BE REMOVED EXCEPT

BY THE CONSUMER" shall appear at the top of the label;

3.8.2 Headings shall read "All New Material" when the bedding material is wholly new material;

3.8.3 "Secondhand Material" when the bedding material in whole or in part is comprised of secondhand material;

3.8.4 Description of filling material as provided in the applicable regulations shall be included on the label;

3.8.5 The registry number assigned or approved by the Department shall be included on the label;

3.8.6 Certification by the manufacturer that the materials in this article are described in accordance with law shall be included on the label;

3.8.7 For renovated articles, the name and address of the owner.

Section 4. Bedding Materials

4.1 The contents and uses and percentage of filling materials used in articles of bedding and in bulk form shall be stated on the label.

4.2 Percentages shall be computed on the basis of avoirdupois weight of the filling material present and shall be designated on the label in order of predominance with the component with the largest content listed first.

4.3 The department may establish grades, specifications and tolerances for the kinds and qualities of materials that may be used in the manufacture, repair or renovation of bedding comprised of new materials or secondhand materials and may approve or adopt designations and rules which are not in conflict with any provisions of this section for the labeling of bedding filled with such materials.

4.4 Bedding shall not be manufactured in whole, or in part, from any secondhand material unless such material has been sanitized, germicidally treated or cleaned by a method approved by the department.

Section 5. Disinfection of Secondhand Bedding

6.1General requirements

6.1.1 A person shall not sell, offer for sale or include in a sale any article of second-hand bedding or any article of bedding manufactured in whole, or in part, from second-hand material, unless such bedding has been cleaned, stains and odors removed and germicidally treated by a method approved by the Department. Articles of bedding removed from a retail establishment to be used as bedding and returned to the establishment are considered second-hand bedding.

6.1.2 A person shall not use in the manufacture, renovation or repair of bedding any material which has been obtained from dump grounds, landfills, junk yards, or hospitals within or without the State of Arkansas.

6.2Methods of treatment. Disinfection of used or secondhand bedding must be by:

6.2.1 Chemical spray. The application of a chemical pesticide registered with by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The chemical pesticide must Have clearly stated on the label, or on printed material included in each container or package, detailed instructions for its use in disinfecting used or secondhand articles; Have clearly stated on the label a statement that the pesticide is safe to use on bedding; Have an additive product which provides fluorescent particles when viewed under ultraviolet (black light) and magnification. The purpose for this requirement is to provide a uniform method for detection of the presence of germicidal treatment agent on articles of bedding, by enforcement officials. Sanitizer shall follow all application, safety, storage and disposal instructions provided by the product manufacturers.

6.2.2 Commercial laundry method. Pillows, cushions, comforters, pads or other similar items will be considered as having been germicidally treated when the filling materials and covering material or ticking are kept intact without opening, and cleaned by a commercial laundry method.

6.2.3 Other methods of germicidal treatment may be used in treating bedding and materials provided it has been approved by the Department.

Section 6. Penalties

5.1 The department may, at its discretion, randomly conduct bedding and materials product tests and inspections of the premises of any bedding manufacturer, renovator, or sanitizer for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this section and the department's rules adopted under this section.

5.2 If the department finds probable cause to believe that an article of bedding violates any provisions of this section, it may embargo, remove, recall, condemn, destroy or otherwise dispose of bedding found to violate any provisions of this section.

5.3.1 The department may deny, suspend, or revoke an initial or renewal permit of any person that violates any provision of this section.

5.3.2 Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate violation.

5.3.3 A person who violates any provision of this section commits a Class A misdemeanor.

5.3.4 The court may order restitution in addition to any other penalty provided in sections.

5.3.5 The department may petition for an injunction to restrain a continuing violation of this section or a threat of a continuing violation of this section, provided such violation or threatened violation creates an immediate threat to public health and safety.

5.3.6 A manufacturer, renovator, or seller that knowingly attaches to bedding, or sells bedding bearing, a label stating that the product is made from all new materials, when the person has actual knowledge or reason to believe or suspect that such bedding is made in whole or in part from secondhand materials commits a Class A Misdemeanor.

5.3.7 Each bedding product that is found to be falsely labeled in this respect constitutes a separate violation.

Section 7. Severability

If any provisions of these Rules and Regulations, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of these Rules applications, and to this end the provisions hereto are declared to be severable.

Section 8. Repeal

All regulations and parts of regulations in conflict herewith are hereby repealed*

Section 9. Certification

This will certify that the foregoing Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Bedding were adopted by the Arkansas Department of Health at the regular session of the Board of Health held at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, Arkansas on the 23^rd day of October, 2014.

007.04.14 Ark. Code R. 001

10/31/2014