Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all flame retardants currently in use in furniture and furnishings are safe.

Flame retardant chemicals are regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). To comply with REACH, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They have to demonstrate how the substances can be safely used, and they must communicate the risk management measures to the users. If the risks cannot be managed, authorities can ban or restrict the use of substances.

It is the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure that any flame retardants they use are effective in meeting legal requirements for safety.