Fire-risk clothing labels to change

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 2

Fire-risk clothing labels to change

PA Wellington Misleading labels which show the fire risk of children’s nightwear will be replaced after changes in the standards governing these garments, the Consumer Affairs Department says. The old labels said garments were “designed” rather than styled to reduce fire risk, which could be misleading, the department’s senior advisor for product safety, Mr Colin Hooker said. The changes have extended the standards which govern nightwear for children aged between 12 months and 14 years to include children from the age of six months. Warnings against the use of flammable fabrics are suggested for sewing patterns for children’s nightwear and Consumer Affairs is actively considering making such a warning mandatory. Legislation in 1977 regarding children’s nightwear banned the use of flammable materials for flowing garments such as night dresses and required other nightwear to be close fitting in order to reduce fire risk. Mr Hooker said banning highly flammable material for use in children’s nightwear altogether had been considered but dropped as being unfair to both consumers and manufacturers