A law label is a legally required tag or label on new items describing the fabric labels and filling regulating the United States mattress, upholstery and stuffed article (e.g.: pillows, plush toys, comforters, etc.) industry. Typically these tags begin with a phrase such as This tag may not be removed under penalty of law except by the consumer. Some states require tags on used bedding as well.

 

The purpose of the law label is to inform the consumer of the hidden contents, or “filling materials” inside bedding & furniture products. The law label of fabric labels was born in the early 1900s to prevent these articles from being further manufactured with contents such as horse hair, corn husks and whatever else a manufacturer could find to use that the consumer would never see, similar to food labeling.

 

Laws requiring these tags were passed in the United States to inform consumers as to whether the stuffed article they were buying contained new or recycled materials. This was and still is considered important as contaminated, recycled stuffing material could contain lice, bedbugs, or human excretions.

 

Such stuffed article labelling laws exist in other jurisdictions, for example, the fabric labels required on duvets sold in the United Kingdom, that describe the materials used and the tog insulation rating.

 

Many mattress manufacturers such as Sealy, Simmons and Serta require these tags to be produced in the event of a warranty claim. If the consumer chooses to remove these tags, they should be stored in a safe place along with their Warranty card.