For many years, people have wondered about the label that is attached to their mattress that says, "This tag may not be removed under penalty of law except by the consumer." This label is a "law label" and is on the mattress for the protection of the consumer.
A law label is a legally required tag on some new products sold in the United States. The tag discusses the fabric and filling regulations for the U.S. mattress, upholstery and stuffed article (pillows, comforters, etc) industries. It is fully legal for the consumer to remove the tag, but not legal for the mattress makers to do so.
Laws requiring these tags were instituted in the U.S. to help inform consumers whether the stuffed article they were purchasing contained new or recycled materials. This law is still viewed as important since contaminated or recycled stuffing material could possibly contain lice, bedbugs, or even human excrement.
Stuffed article labeling laws exist outside of the United States. For instance, The UK requires a tag on duvets sold which describe the materials used inside as well as the tog insulation rating.
Many mattress makers, including Sealy, Simmons, and Serta, require that these tags be made for warranty claim purposes. If the consumer removes these tags, the tags should be kept and put in the same place as the warranty card. Or it may be a better idea to simply leave the tags on the mattress so that they can easily be referred to if necessary.
