JavaScript is disabled. Please enable to continue!

Mobile search icon
Eurofins >> Consumer Product Testing >> Media Centre >> News >> Eurofins | July 2019 regulatory Newsflash compilation | Softlines & Leather

Eurofins | July 2019 regulatory Newsflash compilation | Softlines & Leather

Sidebar Image

Eurofins newsflash Softlines and Leather

 

Europe

 

“Small parts” testing on children’s garments

 

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is developing a set of 4 new documents to evaluate the safety of children’s garments regarding the mechanical properties.

 

Read more >>

 

Safety of Children’s clothing -“CORDS AND DRAWSTRINGS”- under review

 

The standard EN 14682 (“Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing – Specifications”) is currently under review.

 

Read more >>

 

Standards Updates

 

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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.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

EN 16711-3:2019

Textiles - Determination of metal content - Part 3: Determination of lead release by artificial saliva solution.

2019-11-30

 

EN ISO 1833-10:2019

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 10: Mixtures of triacetate or polylactide with certain other fibres (method using dichloromethane) (ISO 1833-10:2019).

2019-11-30

EN ISO 1833-10:2010

EN ISO 1833-18:2019

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 18: Mixtures of silk with other protein fibres (method using sulfuric acid) (ISO 1833-18:2019).

2019-11-30

EN ISO 1833-18:2010

EN ISO 1833-21:2019

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 21: Mixtures of chlorofibres, certain modacrylics, certain elastanes, acetates, triacetates and certain other fibres (method using cyclohexanone) (ISO 1833-21:2019).

2019-11-30

EN ISO 1833-21:2010

EN ISO 1833-3:2019

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 3: Mixtures of acetate with certain other fibres (method using acetone) (ISO 1833-3:2019).

2019-11-30

EN ISO 1833-3:2010

EN ISO 22568-4:2019

Foot and leg protectors - Requirements and test methods for footwear components - Part 4: Non-metallic perforation resistant inserts (ISO 22568-4:2019).

2019-11-30

EN 12568:2010

 

US

 

Standards Updates

 

Below a summary table with some recent ASTM standards updates:

 

Reference

Title

ASTM D123 - 19

Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles.

ASTM D6458 / D6458M - 19

Standard Tables of Body Measurements for Boys, Sizes 4 to 20 Slim and 2 to 20 Regular.

 

US | California

 

Third amendment to Bill proposal on Hazardous substances in jewelry

 

On 20th June 2019, California proposed the third amendment of the SB 647 bill “Hazardous substances: metal-containing jewelry”, a Bill that was introduced in February 2019.

 

The main points about this bill proposal are:

 

Children's jewelry (15 years and younger).

Lead (surface coatings)

≤ 90 ppm

Lead (accessible components)

≤100 ppm

Soluble cadmium (surface coatings)

≤ 75 ppm

Cadmium (components)

≤ 300 ppm

For body piercing jewelry (that is not children’s jewelry).

List of materials to be used in this type of jewelry:

 

  • Surgical implant stainless steel.
  • Surgical implant grade of titanium.
  • Niobium (Nb).
  • Solid 14 karat or higher white or yellow nickel-free gold.
  • Solid platinum.
  • A dense low-porosity plastic, including, but not limited to, Tygon or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), if the plastic contains no intentionally added lead.

For jewelry that is not children’s jewelry.

The jewelry has to be made entirely from one or more than one of the following materials:

 

  • Stainless or surgical steel.
  • Karat gold.
  • Sterling silver.
  • Platinum, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, or osmium.
  • Natural or cultured pearls.
  • Glass, ceramic, or crystal decorative components, including cat’s eye, cubic zirconia, including cubic zirconium or CZ, rhinestones, and cloisonne.
  • A gemstone that is cut and polished for ornamental purposes, excluding aragonite, bayldonite, boleite, cerussite, crocoite, ekanite, linarite, mimetite, phosgenite, samarskite, vanadinite, and wulfenite.
  • Elastic, fabric, ribbon, rope, or string that does not contain intentionally added lead.
  • All natural decorative material, including amber, bone, coral, feathers, fur, horn, leather, shell, or wood, that is in its natural state and is not treated in a way that adds lead.
  • Adhesive.
  • Electroplated metal containing less than 0.05 % (500 parts per million) lead by weight.
  • Unplated metal not otherwise listed containing less than 0.05 % (500 parts per million) lead by weight.
  • Plastic or rubber, including acrylic, polystyrene, plastic beads and stones, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing less than 0.02 % (200 parts per million) lead by weight.
  • A dye or surface coating containing less than 0.05 % (500 parts per million) lead by weight.
  • Any other material that contains less than 0.05 % (500 parts per million) lead by weight.

 

US | Minnesota

 

Minnesota Strengthens Flame-retardant Chemicals Law in Certain Products

 

On May 22, 2019, Minnesota’s governor signed flame retardant bill HF 359 into law which amends Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 325F.071 by expanding the scope of products and flame retardants.

 

From July 1, 2021, manufacturers or wholesalers are not allowed to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use in this State a children's product, upholstered residential furniture, residential textile, or mattress that contain any organohalogenated flame retardant exceeding 1,000 parts per million in any product component. The effective date for retailer to observe this ban is July 1, 2022.

 

The following are exempt from this prohibition:

 

  • The sale or offer for sale of any previously owned product containing a chemical restricted under this section.
  • An electronic component of a children’s product, mattress, upholstered residential furniture, or residential textile or associated casing.
  • A children’s product, mattress, upholstered residential furniture, or residential textile where a federal flammability standard exists.
  • Thread or fiber used for stitching mattress components together.
  • Components of an adult mattress other than foam.

This new law also restricts the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting foams.

 

For more information click here.

 

China

 

Standards updates list 2019

 

Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the  Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China published the announcement No.7 of 2019 and announcement No. 16 of 2019 ([First document] & [Second document] in Chinese) on the approval of national standards and national standard amendments.

 

Below a summary table with some of the relevant textile standards (non-exhaustive list):

 

Product Standard

Reference

Title

Replace to

Implementation date

FZ/T 72002-2019

Silver knitting fake fur.

FZ/T 72002-2006

2019-11-01

FZ/T 72007-2019

Warp knitted fake fur.

FZ/T 72007-2006

2019-11-01

FZ/T 72024-2019

Bedding with knitted fabric. 

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 72025-2019

Knitted fabric for trousers.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 73029-2019

Knitted trousers.

FZ/T 73029-2009

2019-11-01

FZ/T 73037-2019

Knitted sport socks.

FZ/T 73037-2010

2019-11-01

FZ/T 73061-2019

Knitted jacket.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 73062-2019

Knitted beachwear.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 73063-2019

Knitted maternity wear.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 74007-2019

Outdoor sunscreen skinsuit.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 81023-2019

Water-proof and moisture permeable wear.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 07003-2019

Technical specification for green-design product assessment–Silk products.

 

 

GB/T 22703-2019

Qipao.

GB/T 22703-2008

2020-01-01

GB/T 22853-2019

Knitted sportswear.

GB/T 22853-2009

2020-01-01

Test Method Standard

Reference

Title

Replace to

Implementation date

FZ/T 01148-2019

Textiles–Determination of adipic acid dihydrazide–LC-MS/MS.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 20033-2019

Determination of heterochromatic fibers and vegetable matter in wool and cashmere.

 

2019-11-01

FZ/T 50045-2019

Elastane filament yarns– Test method for cross-sectional area.

 

2019-11-01

GB/T 18886-2019

Textiles-Tests for colourfastness-Colourfastness to saliva.

GB/T 18886-2002

2020-01-01

GB/T 21655.2-2019

Textiles—Evaluation of absorption and quick-drying—Part 2: Method for moisture management tests.

GB/T 21655.2-2009

2020-01-01

GB/T 22701-2019

Rules of testing and inspection for professional clothing.

GB/T 22701-2008

2020-01-01

GB/T 23317-2019

Specification for clothing made of coated fabrics for protection against wet weather.

GB/T 23317-2009

2020-01-01

 

International

 

Regulatory updates

 

Below a summary table with some recent regulation proposals notified to World Trade Organization:

 

Notification number

Countries

Title

G/TBT/N/ECU/386

Ecuador

Draft second revision (2R) of Ecuadorian Standardization Institute Technical Regulation (PRTE INEN) No. 080 "Labelling of footwear".

G/TBT/N/ECU/431

Ecuador

Draft second revision (2R) of Ecuadorian Standardization Institute Technical Regulation (PRTE INEN) No. 127 "Carpets and other textile floor coverings".

G/TBT/N/ECU/433

Ecuador

Draft second revision (2R) of Ecuadorian Technical Regulation PRTE INEN No. 157 "Labelling of articles of leather".

G/TBT/N/ECU/455

Ecuador

Draft first revision (1R) of Ecuadorian Technical Regulation PRTE INEN No. 213 "Mattresses").

G/TBT/N/CHN/1323

China

National Standard of the P.R.C., Sheep Wool (Revision No. 1).

 

Product Recalls/Alerts

 

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 3 alerts regarding textile & leather products have been reported, from week 21 until week 24 of 2019.

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Chemical

1

Leather gloves- Chromium (VI) in the leather insoles.

Strangulation

2

Children’s clothing – Risk of strangulation due to cords and drawstrings not complying with applicable standard.

 

US

 

From 21st May to 20th June 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 4 recalls regarding textile & leather products.

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Burn Injuries

2

Children’s sleep sacks and children ‘s robe and pajama pants fail to meet the flammability standard.

Choking hazard

1

Rain boots: The unicorn horn on the boot can detach.

Fire hazard

1

Mattress fails to meet the mandatory federal flammability standard.

 

Chem-MAP

 

Introducing Ve-MAP Vegan Verification System from Chem-MAP

 

The Ve-MAP programme can support brands and retailers in the verification of product as suitable for vegans. The Ve-MAP programme enables manufacturing facilities to create and populate a comprehensive chemical inventory with systematic identification of all chemicals being used within the facility. This Chemical Inventory Log (CIL) will then allow the Ve-MAP team to conduct a risk assessment of each chemical and its links to animal products. Any chemicals deemed as ‘high risk’ of having animal derived raw materials are then analysed for the presence of animal DNA.

 

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.

 

VEmap