Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Terms Used
Certificate, Registration and License all have the same meaning
Label, Law Label and Tag all have the same meaning
Goods, Items and Products all have the same meaning

Why is your website so very plain looking?
Many customers live in countries that do not have broadband internet connections. Having fancy graphics, Flash animation and java applets really doesn't change the functionality of the website. It will, however, slow it down for many customers. It's another part of our "Keep it simple" philosophy.

Why am I getting errors when using your website?
You must have Javascript enabled in your browser to use our website. All browsers support it and you can turn it on or off in your browser's "Tools...Options" or "Tools...Internet Options".

What is a Law Label?
Law Labels exists to give consumer the knowledge they need to make purchases of stuffed goods. The Law Label contains the composition of the stuffing material, manufacturer details and other information. The Law Label tag is made of long lasting materials such as Tyvek, Valeron or Vellum. Here is a sample of what a law label looks like:
SampleLawLabel.doc

What is a Uniform Registration Number (URN)?
A URN is a number (Example: OH 12345 (CN) ) that is assigned for each law label. EACH FACTORY LOCATION MUST HAVE IT'S OWN LAW LABEL! If you company has multiple factories, then you must have each factory registered with a different URN. This number is assigned once by any of the 16 registration states, and then it is used for the applications to all the other states. The URN will be printed on the law labels. It is also used to ensure that the manufacturer is keeping their registrations up to date by the states.

A URN is NOT the same as a Registration Number provided by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce. That is a general business number used for completely different purposes.

What is a manufacturer?
A manufacturer is defined as the company that owns the factory where the bedding item is created. It is NOT the distributor, wholesaler or importer. If your bedding items are manufactured by another company, THAT company is the manufacturer, not yours.

What is an Importer?
An importer is the company who is bringing the bedding items to the United States for sale by themselves or others.

What is Registration?
It is simply the act of registering with a state, by the manufacturer or importer, to sell stuffed and bedding goods in that state. As a manufacturer, you MUST register each factory/plant separately. You will be assigned a new URN for each factory/plant. You may register a "joint" license shared with an Importer.

What is "Joint" registration?
A manufacturer can share the registration certificate with an importer. This is called a "joint" registration because both the manufacturer and importer company names are on the certificate. THIS TYPE OF CERTIFICATE CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE IMPORTER SHOWN ON THE CERTIFICATE. IT CAN NOT BE USED TO SELL GOODS WITH ANY OTHER IMPORTER! If this type of license is used, the law label can have "Made For..." or "Imported By..." printed on it. If the certificate is only for the manufacturer, the law label can only have "Made By..." on it. Also, a "joint" license allows the importer to become registered in the importer-required states without submitting a separate application. Only California and Virginia require separate applications, even for "joint" certificates.

What U.S. States require registration?
States
Expire Dates
State Fees
LLS Fee
Total Fees
California (Requires compliance)
2 Years
$650
$79
$729
Connecticut
April 30
$50/$100
$79
$129/$179
Delaware
December 31
$50
$79
$129
Detroit
December 31
minimum $75
$79
$129
Massachusetts
June 30
$300
$79
$379
North Carolina
January 30
minimum $50
$79
$129
New York (Requires more information)
1 Year
$150
$79
$229
Ohio (Requires sample testing)
1 Year
$50
$79
$129
Oklahoma
June 30
$5
$79
$84
Pennsylvania
1 Year
$50
$79
$129
Rhode Island
June 30, 2012
$630
$79
$709
Texas
2 Years
minimum $220
$79
$354
Utah
December 31
$105
$79
$184
Virginia
1 Year
$100
$79
$179
West Virginia
June 30
$50
$79
$129

Will Law Label Services register my company in Canada?
Not at this time. We have plans to expand our services to include Canada in the future. For now, you can contact them directly at:
Technical Standards and Safety
Information Centre Competition Bureau Canada
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

What products require registration?
Just about any item that contains stuffing is required by at least some states to be registered. Click here for more information on what states require what items to be registered. It is YOUR responsibility to determine what states you need to register your products in. Example: If you do not select Ohio for registration, but sell goods in Ohio, you could be fined or banned from selling in Ohio ever again. Law Label Services does NOT know what products you sell or what the law labels will be attached to!

Are there any other fees?
Yes, Detroit, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia charge a per item fee on a regular basis. Click here for more information on the per item fees.

Why do I have to register?
25 states in the U.S. require a Law Label on all stuffed and bedding goods. 15 of those states require the manufacturer or importer to submit an application of registration. That application will allow the manufacturer or importer to sell their goods in that state. Without it, the manufacturer will be denied access to sell ANY goods in that state.

What if I use an importer?
If you are a foreign manufacturer, 6 of the 15 required states demand that you AND the Importer must be registered. The other 9 states require that only the manufacturer be registered. You must enter the Importer's Name, Address and Contact information on the application.

What if I am an importer?
Importers must register in six (6) states, California, Connecticut, Detroit, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. The manufacturer must still register in those states since the Manufacturer must be registered where ever their goods are sold. You must have the manufacturer's URN available when you register. You must register EVERY manufacturers law label separately for the states listed above. You can NOT register one time for all of your manufacturers. However there are benefits if you register a "joint" license shared with a manufacturer. See above ofr more information.

What testing does Ohio do?
Ohio tests the filling materials to make sure the manufacturers are labeling the goods correctly. An incorrect label could cause health problems with certain individuals.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OHIO INFORMATION

What testing does California do?
California requires flammability compliance for upholstered furniture sold in the state.

COMPLIANCE of filling materials and fabrics with TB 117 for furniture is MANDATORY.

TESTING of furniture by the manufacturer or importer is NOT mandatory, per California law. (Note that this is not the case with mattresses and mattress pads, which are subject to federal (CPSC) cigarette resistance law which requires prototype testing as proof of compliance BEFORE sale).

Manufacturers of furniture sold in California verify compliance with TB 117 by:

Manufacturers then add the TB 117 Flammability Label to their compliant products along with the Law Label.

Q: Which laws apply to used mattresses, mattress/box springs sets and futons?
A: Used products that have not been renovated, re-covered, rebuilt or refurbished as described above must meet the California flammability and labeling requirements in effect when they were originally Manufactured. They must also be sanitized, labeled and sold according to the regulations applicable to used products.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE CALIFORNIA INFORMATION

How much does it cost?
The state fees vary from $5 to over $720. They are usually good for one year. Ohio and Pennsylvania charge a "per item" fee of $0.04 (OH) and $0.025(PA). North Carolina and Texas base the registration fee on how many items you sell in their states each year.
Law Label Services charges $79 per law label registration.

What states require law label registration?
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Detroit, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

What are the steps to get registered?
(Click here for more details)
Step 1: Create an account with Law Label Services
Step 2: Sign Power of Attorney
Step 3: IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A URN Certificate, send it to Law Label Services
Step 4: LOGIN and create your Company Information document
Step 5: IF YOU ALREADY HAVE LAW LABELS WITH A VALID URN, send 100 sample law labels to Law Label Services
Step 6: You are now ready to register with the states
Step 7: Log in to our website and click on Request Registration, then follow the instructions.
Step 8: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALID URN, Law Label Services will register your company for a certificate with one of the states
Step 9: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE LAW LABELS, please have 100 sample law labels printed and sent to Law Label Services
Step 10: (OPTIONAL) Send stuffing sample to Ohio. They will contact you with the requirements.
Step 11: (OPTIONAL) Complete California Application
Step 12: (OPTIONAL) Complete North Carolina Application
Step 13: You are complete!

Why does LLS need a Power of Attorney from me?
In order to automate and speed up the registration process, Law Label Services will be signing and submitting the applications on your behalf. The Power of Attorney gives Law Label Services the legal ability to sign and submit the application, but nothing else. Without it, YOU will need to sign the application. That means it will have to be sent to you for your signature. DHL shipping costs approx. $50 each way to most countries. The postal service is much cheaper, but your application may be delayed or even lost. That would make the process start over from the beginning again.

What if I don’t register?
You risk the loss of income from not selling your good in the U.S. If you sell your product and it is found to be out of compliance, the product will be pulled from the store or retiler immaediately. You will also risk having a fine levied against your company.

How long does it take?
Creating an account with Law Label Services and filling in your company information only takes a few minutes.
A RUSH ORDER can get a URN for you in 1-2 business days.
Processing the payment to Law Label Services takes 3-4 business days for verification.
A regular order takes about 2-3 weeks to get a URN created for your company.
It will take an additional 2-3 weeks to complete all the states except California. They will take at least 6-8 weeks.

What is the first thing I need to do?
Go to http://www.lawlabel.com and Create an Account.
Then follow the instructions HERE.

What if I don’t have a URN?
We will apply for a URN in Pennsylvania, Utah or another state, depending on where you will selling your goods.

What if I use Down Feathers?
Go to our Down Feather Help page.

How long does the registration last?
All states require yearly registration at a minimum. Below is the list of dates each state uses for expiration:

Every January 30th
North Carolina

Every April 30th
Connecticut

Every June 30th
Massachusetts, Oklahoma, West Virginia

Every December 31st
Delaware, Detroit, Utah

12 months from date of issue
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia

24 months from date of issue
California, Texas

June 30th, every 3rd year (2012, 2015, etc.)
Rhode Island

Law Label Services will notify you 60 days and 30 days ahead of when ALL of your registrations are due. We make sure you will always have plenty of time to renew your application.

How soon can I register or renew?
Your company may make the initial registration at any time. Once you have been issued a URN certificate, you will need to follow the renewal schedule above for each state. You can not renew earlier than 60 days before the expiration date.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call toll free 1-866-684-7194, International (001) 614-543-0479 or write info@lawlabel.com.

Thank you!
© 2010 Law Label Services, LLC