The state of New York recently approved legislation to prohibit the use of the flame retardant tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TRIS, TCEP) in childcare products for children under the age of three. The new law will be effective on 1 December 2013.
On 8 April 1977, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) prohibited the use of tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (TRIS, TDBPP) in children’s wearing apparel1. The ban extended to any TRIS-treated fabric that is uncut but is intended for sale to consumers for use in children’s apparel.
On 1 August 2011, the governor of New York approved bill A 6195 ‘TRIS-Free Children and Babies Act’ (companion bill S 4085) to prohibit the use of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TRIS, TCEP) in childcare products for children under the age of 3 years2. The new law bans the sale of such products in the state of New York after 1 December 2013 and establishes penalties of up to USD 1,000 per day for first time violators and up to USD 2, 000 for each subsequent violation. Highlights of the new law are summarised in Table 1.
1 CPSC Bans TRIS-Treated Children’s Garments, Release # 77-030, 7 April, 1977
2 Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, and sale of child care products containing TRIS, AB 6195, Chapter 259, New York State Assembly
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