Public Consultation

Public Consultation

On 31 March 2026, The Office for Product Safety and Standards in the Department for Business and Trade launched a public consultation: The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture. This consultation will be open for 12 weeks, closing on 23 June 2026 and the consultation document is available to view below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/product-regulation-fire-safety-of-domestic-upholstered-furniture.

Following the consultation period, the Government will review the submissions received and publish a response that will set out a timeline and a roadmap to implementing the reforms.

This publication is part of a wider announcement on product safety framework reform, following the Product Regulation and Metrology Act receiving Royal Assent in July 2025. 

This consultation provides an update on plans to reform to the furniture fire safety regulations, and seeks YOUR views on the Government's proposals below.

The Proposals

The consultation sets out the Government’s plans to:

• Introduce new furniture fire-safety requirements based on a smoulder test and ending mandatory open-flame testing.
• Provide manufacturers with flexibility by allowing compliance through either component or composite testing.
• Remove re-upholstery and repair and second-hand furniture from the scope of sector regulations to be regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations instead

There are different ways to provide your response

Respond online, using the button below

OR download this form 

and send it by email to furniturefiresafety@businessandtrade.gov.uk

OR send it by post or write to:

Furniture Fire Safety Policy Team
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London SW1A 2DY

The answer to each question is YES!