SF bans flame retardants from furniture

San Francisco is banning the sale of upholstered furniture and children’s products that contain flame retardant chemicals.

The chemicals have been linked a number of health issues including to cancer, especially affecting firefighters who are exposed to the chemical at its most volatile level during a fire.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the legislation on Tuesday, which was sponsored by Supervisor Mark Farrell.

Farrell said while the state does not require manufacturers to use the chemicals anymore, the chemicals can still be found on products today:

“Most people are unaware that household furniture and children’s products located in our homes contain toxic chemicals that have been linked to serious health aliments.”

Upholstered furniture and children’s products sold online are also included in the ban. Stores will have to ensure that labels on products show that the items do not contain the chemicals, under the legislation.

A petition process is also setup in the legislation to allow for certain furniture items such as massage chairs for possible exemption from the ban. The Department of Environment will work on the petition process, said Farrell.

The ban goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.