Ireland is to align its Furniture Safety Requirements with the EU's General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), its Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke has announced, revoking the existing Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order 1995, and "marking an important step in the modernisation of Ireland's furniture product framework".
The change will align Ireland's approach to furniture product safety with the EU GPSR, which has been applicable since 13th December 2024, and established a comprehensive framework to ensure only safe consumer products are placed on the EU market.
Peter Burke says: "Consumer safety remains our overriding priority. This decision does not reduce the requirement for furniture sold in Ireland to be safe. Rather, it modernises our regulatory framework by aligning it with the comprehensive product safety regime that now applies across the EU.
“The GPSR places clear legal responsibilities on manufacturers, importers and distributors and provides robust mechanisms for market surveillance, enforcement and product recalls where risks arise."
The department noted that Ireland's furniture flammability requirements were developed more than 30 years ago and are "among the more distinctive" national requirements operating within Europe. It adds that stakeholders have highlighted that compliance with these requirements can create additional costs for manufacturers and may discourage some products available elsewhere in Europe from being supplied to the Irish market.
The department also noted that international discussion on furniture flammability regulations has increasingly considered the balance between fire safety, chemical safety and environmental protection, adding that some flame-retardant chemicals historically used in furniture and upholstery products have been associated with health and environmental concerns, leading to increased scrutiny of their use by regulators and public health bodies internationally.
The department emphasised that the revocation of the 1995 order will not require businesses to withdraw products that are already being lawfully supplied to the Irish market: "Businesses will be able to continue selling existing furniture products, provided those products comply with the GPSR and any other applicable legal requirements.
"The change removes a distinct national furniture flammability requirement and supports greater alignment with product safety standards across the EU. Under the GPSR, enforcement authorities retain extensive powers to investigate potentially unsafe products, require corrective measures, order recalls and remove dangerous products from the market."
Peter Burke concludes: "This change provides greater certainty for businesses operating across the European market. Products that comply with EU product safety requirements can continue to be supplied to consumers in Ireland, while maintaining strong protections for consumer."
