Softlines & Leather | Summer Recap 2020

Regulatory news

Europe

Draft of safety requirements and test for children's cot duvets

Recently, EU technical committee members has announced that they are going to vote in favour or against the following standard:

prEN 16779-2 Textile child care articles — Safety requirements and test methods for children's cot duvets — Part 2: Duvet covers (excluding duvet).

Kindly note that the draft standard may change as the consultation period for this review on the standard is still ongoing.

It is expected that this standard will be harmonised under GPSD at EU level.

Standards updates

Please see the table below summarising the most recent standard 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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

“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.

At this moment, 3 of them are referred to as Technical Specifications (TS) (this may change and can be finally voted as standards), while one will be published as standard directly.

Their publication can set a difference since, up to now, there is no reference European Standard to evaluate mechanical properties of small elements in children’s garments in EU (except in Spain and some other countries).

The authorities present in the standardization committees confirm that these 4 documents would be used by them as reference to check compliance of children’s garments against the requirements set by the GPSD (General Product Safety Directive). However, it still remains unknown whether they will be harmonized under GPSD after their publication.

The final draft documents published beginning of July are:

• CEN/TS 17394-1“Textiles and textile products - Part 1: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of attached components to Infants' clothing- Specification”. Its current status is final draft. The draft is open for final comments of CEN members until the end of September.
• EN 17394-2“Textiles and textile products - Part 2: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of buttons - Test method”. This standard describes the test method to be applied to evaluate security of attachment of buttons. Its current status is final draft. The draft is open for final comments of CEN members until the end of September.
• CEN/TS 17394-3“Textiles and textile products - Part 3: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of metal mechanically applied press fasteners - Test method”.
• CEN/TS 17394-4“Textiles and textile products - Part 4: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of components except buttons and metal mechanically applied press fasteners - Test method”. This document describes the method to be used to evaluate the security of attachment of components except buttons and mechanically applied press fasteners (i.e. sequins, ribbons or other adornments in garments). Its current status is final draft. The draft is open for final comments of CEN members until the end of September.

These standards/TS are developed from the existing CEN/Technical Recommendation 16792:2014 (“Safety of children's clothing - Recommendations for the design and manufacture of children's clothing - Mechanical safety“) that is also under review.

Italy

New regulation on leather material and product labelling

On 28^th May 2020, the Council of Ministers of Italy approved the new legislative Decree No. 68 of 9 June 20201, on leather materials. The decree will become effective from 24 October 2020 and repeal the previous Decree No. 1112 of 16 December 1966.

Sweden

Proposal tax for clothing and footwear

In April 2020, the Swedish government published a proposal act regarding a tax on clothing and footwear products which contain Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), under EU REACH Regulations, and antimicrobial substances (biocides). Personal protective equipment (PPE), toys, electric or electronic components of clothing and footwear and non-textile components containing chemicals such as metal or plastic fasteners and non-textile decorative attachments will not be taxed under this act.

The tax would apply to all clothing and footwear products that are produced or imported into Sweden.

US

Standards updates

Please see below table summarising several recent ASTM standards updates:

Guidance for textile face coverings

In July 2020, the American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists (AATCC), a professional association, and the Standards Developing Organization have released a new standard:

AATCC M14-2020 Guidance and Considerations for General Purpose Textile Face Coverings: Adult.

The aim is of the monograph is to outline considerations and recommendations intended to help manufacturers to more efficiently design and produce face coverings for general purpose (non-medical) use. A draft version has been circulating since June.

For further information, please visit AATCC website here.

Public consultation regarding collection of information related to the flammability of clothing textiles and vinyl plastic film standards

On 26^th May 2020, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a notice regarding the submission of a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the approval of collection of information associated with the Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles and the Standard for the Flammability of Vinyl Plastic Film, previously approved under OMB control number 3041-0024.

The deadline for submission of comments was 25^th June 2020.

For further information, please visit the Federal register website here.

China

National Supervision and Spot Check Plan 2020

On 8^th May 2020, the China State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published the National Product Quality Supervision and Sampling Plan for 2020.

The spot check plan covers a total of 131 products; from household textiles, toelectrical and electronic products,light industrial products, construction and decoration materials, agricultural products , mechanical security products, electrical products and materials and food-related products.

For more information, please visit the SAMR website here.

Product Recalls / Alerts

Below you will find a monthly summary table 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 Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 16 to week 20 of 2020.

The following 2 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 21 to week 26 of 2020.

US

From 16^st April 2020 to 15^th May 2020, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 1 recall regarding Childcare and children’s products.

From 16^st May 2020 to 30^th June 2020, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 1 recall regarding Childcare and children’s products