Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will provide an update on the next steps he will take to reform the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to reduce the use of chemical flame retardants.

The policy paper 'The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture', published on 22 January 2025, set out that the Government is committed to delivering reforms to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 that maintain a high level of fire safety while also facilitating a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants (CFRs).

Since publication, the Department for Business and Trade has undertaken targeted engagement to inform next steps, including a roundtable in July 2025 that considered issues such as CFR labelling and open-flame testing. The Government will provide an update on this in due course.