Down and Feather Labeling Program Continues to Set Industry Standard
Decade-Long Program Upholds Standards for Quality Bedding Products
NEW YORK (November 17, 2015) – In 2006, the American Down and Feather Council (ADFC) established a Labeling Compliance Program to ensure that all natural-fill bedding products sold in the U.S. are labeled correctly and that the quality of these products meets or exceeds the claims made on the label or packaging. Today, nearly a decade later, this program still holds true when it comes to providing quality assurance for those who purchase down and feather products.
The Labeling Compliance Program establishes strict regulations for the down and feather bedding industry and ensures that any product with the ADFC Seal of Approval has been tested and certified in accordance with standards set forth by the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB). Therefore, this Seal of Approval lets consumers know that the manufacturer participates in the Labeling Compliance Program and that the product meets high industry standards. The Seal of Approval is a quality assurance label that affirms the product has been tested by a certified IDFB testing lab and consists of authentic down and feather material.
The American Down and Feather Council strictly regulates the industry to ensure the validity of manufactures who claim to sell certified down and feather products. The Standards Testing Committee (STC) reviews and tests products regarding representation, claims and advertising. If a product is deemed a failure serious repercussions can follow, manufacturers could potentially face probation or expulsion from ADFC and further failure to comply with Industry Standards may result in notification to the appropriate Governmental authorities.
When it comes to considering down and feather products for the program, several different components are tested to determine the product’s level of quality. Performed in an IDFB-certified testing laboratory, inspectors look at the species of bird the materials come from; the fill power of the product; the product’s filling weight; oxygen numbers; thread count; turbidity; and the quality of the down clusters. Only when a product passes all seven tests and is in accordance with industry standards—as well as state and federal laws—is it be eligible to display the ADFC Seal of Approval.
“This program was designed to provide retailers and consumers with truth-in-labeling, and it’s a mission we take very seriously,” said David Sweet, president of the ADFC. “It’s important that these audiences have the information they need to be able to make educated decisions when purchasing down and feather products. Since the inception of the Labeling Compliance Program, we’ve seen a major decrease in the number of mislabeling complaints – in fact, it’s unusual for us, now, to get more than two complaints within the course of a year.”
For more information about the ADFC Labeling Compliance Program, standards, or testing process, visit www.downandfeathercouncil.com/products.html.
About the American Down and Feather Council (ADFC)
The American Down and Feather Council (ADFC), a section of the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA), is a voluntary association of manufacturers of natural fill bedding products, as well as dealers, buyers, sellers and processors of feathers and down for use in home fashion products. The goal of the ADFC is to further the common interests of the down and feather products industry and to maintain and improve product quality.