Eurofins | April 2019 regulatory Newsflash compilation | Softlines & Leather
Europe
Microplastics in the textile industry – Cross Industry Agreement developments
One of the current hot topics is microplastics pollution and how it can affect the environment and human health.
Below a summary table with some recent standards updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):
(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.
|
Reference |
Title |
Date of Withdrawal (*) |
Supersedes |
|
Footwear and footwear components - Quantitative challenge test method to assess antifungal activity (ISO 20150:2019). |
2019-08-31 |
- |
Draft technical regulation on labelling of clothing
On 11th February 2019, the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) published their draft project Andean Technical Regulation on labelling of clothing.
This proposal describes the requirements for labelling of clothing and home textile products. The main requirements are:
- Minimum information on the label:
- Fiber labelling
- Care labelling: In words or ISO 3758: 2012 symbols
- Identification of the manufacturer or importer
- Country of Origin
- Sizing information
- Information in Spanish language
- Information must be indelible, legible, visible to the consumer or easily accessible
This technical regulation is still pending to be published in the Official Gazette of the Cartagena Agreement to enter in force (that will be after 18 days of its official publication).
Click here for getting the Andean’s publication (in Spanish).
Update of the Futon Flammability Requirements Guideline
On February 28, 2019, Health Canada published an updated guide regarding futon flammability requirements under the Mattresses Regulations.
This guide provides information about the safety requirements for futons that are manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada.
For more information or to request a copy of these guidelines, click here to go to Government of Canada’s website.
Regulatory updates
Below a summary table with some recent regulation proposals notified to World Trade Organization:
|
Notification number |
Countries |
Title |
|
Taiwan |
Proposal for Amendment to Legal Inspection of Suitcases. |
Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source “RAPEX”) and in the US (Source “CPSC”).
Europe
RAPEX (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).
The following 5 alerts regarding textile & leather products have been reported, from week 8 until week 11 of 2019.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Chemical |
3 |
Azo-dyes: aromatic amine 4-methyl-m-phenylenediamine (2,4-toluenediamine). |
|
Chromium (VI) in leather. |
||
|
Choking |
1 |
Children’s clothing – Choking hazard mainly due to small parts being detached from the article. |
|
Strangulation |
1 |
Children’s clothing – Risk of strangulation due to cords and drawstrings not complying with applicable standard. |
From 21st February to 20th March 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 0 recalls regarding textile & leather products.
Introducing Ve-MAP Vegan Verification System from Chem-MAP
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For more information on Ve-MAP please visit the Chem-MAP website. If you are looking to ensure your products are vegan and would like to discuss Ve-MAP and the certification of Vegan products, contact the Chem-MAP team today: info@chem-map.com, +44 (0) 1604 679999.
