Softlines & Leather | Q4 2020
Extending the period of validity of the ecological criteria for textile and footwear products
On 1st December 2020, the European Commission published the following amendments related to Ecolabel criteria for textile and footwear products.
“Commission Decision (EU) 2020/1805 of 27 November 2020 amending Decisions 2014/350/EU and (EU) 2016/1349 extending the period of validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel to textile products and footwear and of the related assessment and verification requirements”.
Until 31st December 2025, the ecological criteria and its assessment and verification requirements will be valid.
ECHA reminder on CMR restrictions in textiles and footwear
The use of 33 chemicals known to cause cancer, modify DNA or be harmful to human reproduction is restricted in clothing, textiles and footwear from 1 November 2020. The restriction imposes maximum concentration limits to these substances or groups of substances in order to protect the health of people, in particular children and pregnant women who may experience more harmful effects on their health.
For more information, read the Explanatory Guide on the Restriction on CMRs 1A and 1B in Textiles and Clothing here.
Please see the table below summarising the most 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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.
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CENELEC / CEN |
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Reference |
Title |
Date of Withdrawal (*) |
Supersedes |
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Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 3: Mixtures of acetate with certain other fibres (method using acetone) (ISO 1833-3:2020) |
2021-06-30 |
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Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 12: Mixtures of acrylic, certain modacrylics, certain chlorofibres, certain elastane fibres with certain other fibres (method using dimethylformamide) (ISO 1833-12:2020) |
2021-04-30 |
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Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 18: Mixtures of silk with wool or other animal hair (method using sulfuric acid) (ISO 1833-18:2020) |
2021-04-30 |
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Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 26: Mixtures of melamine with certain other fibres (method using hot formic acid) (ISO 1833-26:2020) |
2021-04-30 |
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Textile fibres - Determination of breaking force and elongation at break of individual fibres (ISO 5079:2020) |
2021-04-30 |
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Size designation of clothes - Part 1: Anthropometric definitions for body measurement (ISO 8559-1:2017) |
2021-06-30 |
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Size designation of clothes - Part 2: Primary and secondary dimension indicators (ISO 8559-2:2017) |
2021-06-30 |
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Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 1: Pilling box method (ISO 12945-1:2020) |
2021-05-31 |
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Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 2: Modified Martindale method (ISO 12945-2:2020) |
2021-05-31 |
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Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 3: Random tumble pilling method (ISO 12945-3:2020) |
2021-05-31 |
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Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 4: Assessment of pilling, fuzzing or matting by visual analysis (ISO 12945-4:2020) |
2021-05-31 |
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Leather - Chemical determination of the preservative (TCMTB, PCMC, OPP, OIT) content in leather by liquid chromatography - Part 2: Artificial perspiration extraction method (ISO 13365-2:2020) |
2021-03-31 |
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Leather - Chemical determination of the preservative (TCMTB, PCMC, OPP, OIT) content in leather by liquid chromatography - Part 1: Acetonitrile extraction method (ISO 13365-1:2020) |
2021-03-31 |
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Leather - Chemical tests for the determination of certain azo colorants in dyed leathers - Part 1: Determination of certain aromatic amines derived from azo colorants (ISO 17234-1:2020) |
2021-03-31 |
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Textiles and textile products - Part 2: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of buttons - Test method |
2021-04-30 |
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Textiles and textile products - Part 2: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of buttons - Test method |
2021-04-30 |
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Textiles and textile products - Determination of organotin compounds - Part 2: Direct method using liquid chromatography (ISO 22744-2:2020) |
2021-03-31 |
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Footwear - Attachment strength of straps, trims and accessories (ISO 24263:2020) |
2021-05-31 |
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Footwear - Test methods for hollow and compact heels and top pieces - Top piece attachment strength (ISO 24264:2020) |
2021-04-30 |
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Footwear - Test methods for uppers - Resistance to rubbing using a rubber strip (ISO 24265:2020) |
2021-04-30 |
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Footwear - Test methods for whole shoe - Flexing durability (ISO 24266:2020) |
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Footwear - Determination of coefficient of friction for footwear and sole components - Test method (ISO 24267:2020) |
2021-05-31 |
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extiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 1: Pilling box method (ISO 12945-1:2020) |
2021-05-31 |
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Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 2: Modified Martindale method (ISO 12945-2:2020) |
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Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 3: Random tumble pilling method (ISO 12945-3:2020) |
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Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 4: Assessment of pilling, fuzzing or matting by visual analysis (ISO 12945-4:2020) |
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ISO |
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Reference |
Title |
Publication date |
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Leather — Chemical tests for the determination of certain azo colourants in dyed leathers — Part 1: Determination of certain aromatic amines derived from azo colourants |
2020-08 |
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Please find below a table summarising the most recent technical publications (non-exhaustive):
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Date |
Countries |
Entity |
Title |
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26/10/2020 |
Europe |
European Commission |
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01/10/2020 |
France |
DGCCRF |
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26/08/2020 |
France |
ANCE |
Proposal for classification of a compound found in clothing and responsible for skin allergies |
Standards updates
Please see below table summarising several recent ASTM standards updates:
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Reference |
Title |
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Standard Test Method for Unsteady-State Heat Transfer Evaluation of Flame-Resistant Materials for Clothing with Continuous Heating |
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Standard Practice for Thermal Conductivity of Leather |
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Standard Test Method for Compressibility of Leather |
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Standard Test Method for Insoluble Ash of Vegetable-Tanned Leather |
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Standard Test Method for Water-Soluble Matter of Vegetable-Tanned Leather |
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Standard Test Method for Cracking Resistance of Leather |
China released GB Standards relevant to Infant, Textiles & Footwear, FCM and other consumer products
Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC) published announcement No.22 of 2020 and announcement No. 23 of 2020 (in Chinese) to approve and release a batch of GB standards, which are closely related to our industries.
The below table listed some of these standards (non-exhaustive list):
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Standard No. |
Standard Name |
Superseded Standard |
Implementation Date |
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Textiles & Footwear |
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GB/T 4146.1-2020 |
Textiles—Man-made fibres—Part 1: Generic names |
GB/T 4146.1-2009 |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 18885-2020 |
Technical specifications of ecological textiles |
GB/T 18885-2009 |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 39104.1-2020 |
Textiles—Determination of antifungal activity of textile products—Part 1: Luminescence method |
Initial |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 39104.2-2020 |
Textiles—Determination of antifungal activity of textile products—Part 2: Plate count method |
Initial |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 39109-2020 |
Textiles—Determination of benzophenone ultraviolet absorbents |
Initial |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 39103-2020 |
Superfine woven wool fabric labelling—Requirements for Super S code definition |
Initial |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 3903.13-2020 |
Footwear—Test methods for outsoles—Dimensional stability |
GB/T 3903.13-2005 |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 3903.26-2020 |
Footwear—Test methods for stiffeners and toepuffs—Bondability |
GB/T 3903.26-2008 |
2021-05-01 |
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GB/T 39113-2020 |
Footwear—Critical substances potentially present in footwear and footwear components—Determination of phenol |
Initial |
2021-05-01 |
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Others |
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GB/T 39107-2020 |
Determination of volatile organic compounds content for consumer products—Static headspace sampling method |
Initial |
2020-10-21 |
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GB/T 39110-2020 |
Consumer product—Plastics—Rapid screening of phthalates |
Initial |
2020-10-21 |
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GB/T 39181-2020 |
Consumer products―Polyester fiber and ABS material―Rapid determination method of fragrance allergens |
Initial |
2020-10-21 |
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GB/T 39183-2020 |
Determination of the migration quantity of nitrosamines in consumer products—Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry |
Initial |
2020-10-21 |
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Date |
country |
News |
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29/12/2020 |
Canada |
Health Canada published the following updates:
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13/11/2020 |
ANDINA |
Publication of the Resolution nº 2170:
Amendment of Resolution 2107 "Andean Technical Regulation for the Labeling of footwear, leather goods, travel articles and the like".
The new effective date of enforcement is 15th November 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic. |
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07/11/2020 |
Turkey |
The Turkish authorities published the following communication in the Official Gazette nº 31297:
It applies to leather goods, handbags, carpets, clothing, shoes, bags, gloves, sleeping bags, watch straps, etc.
All this kind of products has to be in accordance with the “Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals” in Official Gazette No. 30105 (repeated) on 23rd June 2017 (Azo Dyes, Phathalates, DOT, Chromium VI, etc..)
The effective date of enforcement was on 1st January 2021. |
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29/10/2020 |
Canada |
Proposal of changes in the labelling and advertising of upholstered and stuffed articles. |
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22/09/2020 |
US |
California Proposition 65 Settlement
As a result of several 60-day notices related to the Chromium VI's content in leather gloves, a settlement and a consent judgement were issued which require that this type of products have a warning label on the covered leather gloves that contain Chromium VI. |
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27/07/2020 |
US |
Amendment about SNUR
In July the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the amendment about the significant new use rule (SNUR) for long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemical substances. For more information click here. |
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10/06/2020 |
US |
Incorporation of ISO 2076 standard to Textile Fiber Products Identification Act |
