§ 23-26-7.1. Sterilization, disinfection, and disinfestation of bedding and materials.
(a) No person shall sell, offer for sale, or include in a sale any item of secondhand bedding or any item of bedding of any type manufactured in whole or in part from secondhand material, including their component parts or wiping rags, unless such material has been sterilized, disinfected, and cleaned, by a method approved by the department of business regulation; provided, further, that any product used for sterilization or disinfection of secondhand bedding must be registered as consumer and health benefit products and labeled for use on bedding and upholstered furniture by the EPA in accordance with § 23-25-6. The department of business regulation shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) No person shall use in the manufacture, repair, and renovation of bedding of any type any material that has been used by a person with an infectious or contagious disease, or that is filthy, oily, or harbors loathsome insects or pathogenic bacteria.
(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, or include in a sale any material or bedding that under the provisions of this chapter or regulations requires treatment unless there is securely attached in accordance with regulations, a yellow tag not less than twelve square inches (12 sq. in.) in size, made of substantial cloth or a material of equal quality. Upon the tag there shall be plainly printed, in black ink, in the English language, a statement showing:
(1) That the item or material has been treated by a method approved by the department of business regulation, and the method of treatment applied.
(2) The lot number and the tag number of the item treated.
(3) The registration number of the person applying treatment.
(4) The name and address of the person for whom treated.
(d) The tag required by this section shall be in addition to any other tag required pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Holders of registrations to apply sterilization, disinfection, or disinfestation treatment shall be required to keep an accurate record of all materials which have been subjected to treatment, including the source of material, date of treatment, and the name and address of the receiver of each. Such records shall be available for inspection at any time by authorized representatives of the department.
(e) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 147, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 231, art. 3, § 9, effective June 27, 2022.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 23-26 - Bedding and Upholstered Furniture
Section 23-26-1. - Definitions.
Section 23-26-2. - All new materials required for new articles — Tagging.
Section 23-26-3. - Sale of second-hand material as new.
Section 23-26-3.1. - Sale prohibition.
Section 23-26-4. - Sterilization and tagging of second-hand articles or material.
Section 23-26-5. - Presence of second-hand article or material as evidence of sale or use.
Section 23-26-6. - Sterilization and tagging of material exposed to contagious disease.
Section 23-26-7. - Types of material requiring sterilization.
Section 23-26-7.1. - Sterilization, disinfection, and disinfestation of bedding and materials.
Section 23-26-8. - Inspection stamp required on tags.
Section 23-26-9. - Removal or defacement of tags.
Section 23-26-10. - Sale of unattached tags.
Section 23-26-11. - Counterfeit stamps and registrations.
Section 23-26-12. - Sterilization registrations.
Section 23-26-13. - Contents of tag on bedding articles for sale.
Section 23-26-14. - Contents of tag on articles renovated for owner.
Section 23-26-15. - Contents of tag on shipments of filling material.
Section 23-26-16. - Misleading tags — Variances allowed — Ordering articles off sale.
Section 23-26-17. - Sterilization of second-hand “as is” articles — Contents of tag.
Section 23-26-18. - Sterilization and tagging of articles exposed to contagious disease.
Section 23-26-19. - Manner of attaching tags.
Section 23-26-20. - Form of tags.
Section 23-26-22. - Contents of inspection stamps.
Section 23-26-23. - Acceptance of inspection stamps of other states.
Section 23-26-24. - Inspection powers — Confiscation.
Section 23-26-25. - Rules, regulations, and findings — Suspension or revocation of registrations.
Section 23-26-26. - Appeal of director’s decisions.
Section 23-26-27. - Penalty for violations.
Section 23-26-28. - Disposition of fees and penalties.
Section 23-26-30. - Registration required — Application — Issuance and term of registration.