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Softlines & Leather | Summer Recap 2020

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Eurofins newsflash Softlines and Leather

 

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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

 

CENELEC / CEN

Reference

Title

Date of Withdrawal (*)

Supersedes

EN ISO 14088:2020

Leather - Chemical tests - Quantitative analysis of tanning agents by filter method (ISO 14088:2020)

2020-10-31

EN ISO 14088:2012

EN ISO 17131:2020

Leather - Identification of leather with microscopy (ISO 17131:2020)

2020-10-31

EN ISO 17131:2012

EN ISO 3376:2020

Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Determination of tensile strength and percentage elongation (ISO 3376:2020)

2020-11-30

EN ISO 3376:2011

EN ISO 12951:2020

Textile floor coverings - Determination of mass loss, fibre bind and stair nosing appearance change using the Lisson Tretrad machine (ISO 12951:2020)

2020-12-31

EN ISO 12951:2015

EN ISO 1833-29:2020

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 29: Mixtures of polyamide with polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent (method using sulfuric acid) (ISO 1833-29:2020)

2020-12-31

 

EN ISO 22744-1:2020

Textiles and textile products - Determination of organotin compounds - Part 1: Derivatisation method using gas chromatography (ISO 22744-1:2020)

2020-12-31

 

EN ISO 105-B06:2020

Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part B06: Colour fastness and ageing to artificial light at high temperatures: Xenon arc fading lamp test (ISO 105-B06:2020)

2021-01-31

EN ISO 105-B06:2004

EN ISO 1833-1:2020

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 1: General principles of testing (ISO 1833-1:2020)

2021-01-31

EN ISO 1833-1:2010

EN ISO 1833-2:2020

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 2: Ternary fibre mixtures (ISO 1833-2:2020)

2021-01-31

EN ISO 1833-2:2010

EN ISO 20418-3:2020

Textiles - Qualitative and quantitative proteomic analysis of some animal hair fibres - Part 3: Peptide detection using LC-MS without protein reduction (ISO 20418-3:2020)

2021-01-31

 

EN ISO 20136:2020

Leather - Determination of degradability by micro-organisms (ISO 20136:2020)

2021-01-31

EN ISO 20136:2017

EN ISO 1833-25:2020

Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 25: Mixtures of polyester with certain other fibres (method using trichloroacetic acid and chloroform) (ISO 1833-25:2020)

2021-01-31

EN ISO 1833-25:2013

 

“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 17394-2Textiles 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 17394-4Textiles 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 28th 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:

 

Reference

Title

ASTM D4907 - 10(2020)

Standard Test Method for Nitrocellulose in Finish on Leather

ASTM D4654 - 87(2020)

Standard Test Method for Sulfate Basicity in Leather

ASTM D4653 - 87(2020)

Standard Test Method for Total Chlorides in Leather

ASTM E2016 - 20

Standard Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth

ASTM F2774 - 09(2020)

Standard Practice for Manufacturing Quality Control of Consumer Trampoline Bed Material

ASTM F1917 - 20 

Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Infant Bedding and Related Accessories

ASTM F2757 - 20

Standard Guide for Home Laundering Care and Maintenance of Flame Resistant or Arc Rated Clothing

ASTM F1449 - 20

Standard Guide for Industrial Laundering Care and Maintenance of Flame Resistant or Arc Rated Clothing

ASTM E11 - 20

Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves

ASTM D3787 - 16(2020)

Standard Test Method for Bursting Strength of Textiles—Constant-Rate-of-Traverse (CRT) Ball Burst Test

ASTM D3882 - 08(2020)

Standard Test Method for Bow and Skew in Woven and Knitted Fabrics

ASTM D3883 - 04(2020)

Standard Test Method for Yarn Crimp and Yarn Take-up in Woven Fabrics

ASTM D4158 - 08(2020)

Standard Guide for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics (Uniform Abrasion)

ASTM D4964 - 96(2020)

Standard Test Method for Tension and Elongation of Elastic Fabrics (Constant-Rate-of-Extension Type Tensile Testing Machine)

ASTM D6614 / D6614M - 20

Standard Test Method for Stretch Properties of Textile Fabrics – CRE Method

ASTM D7019 - 20

Standard Performance Specification for Brassiere, Slip, Lingerie and Underwear Fabrics

ASTM D6193 - 16(2020)

Standard Practice for Stitches and Seams

ASTM D3785 - 20

Standard Performance Specification for Woven Necktie and Scarf Fabrics

ASTM D7017 - 20

Standard Performance Specification for Water-Resistant Rainwear and All-Purpose, Water-Repellent Coat Fabrics

ASTM D7139 - 20

Standard Terminology for Cotton Fibers

 

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 26th 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 25th June 2020.

 

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

 

China

 

National Supervision and Spot Check Plan 2020

 

On 8th 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.

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Chemicals

2

Leather bracelet: The leather in the product contains chromium VI

Leather jacket: The leather in the product contains chromium VI

Choking

1

Children`s slippers: The plastic eyes can be easily detached. Small parts

Injuries

1

Children's swimwear: The product has drawstrings which are too long at the waist area

Strangulation

1

Children's clothes: The products have drawstrings with free ends around the neck area

 

 

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

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Chemicals

2

Leather gloves: The leather in the product contains chromium VI

Leather wallet: The leather in the product contains chromium VI

 

US

 

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

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Burn injuries

1

Fleece Hoodies: The reverse fleece hoody fails to meet federal flammability standards

 

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

 

Type of Risk

Number of alerts

Notes

Skin irritation 

1

Heeled shoes: The leather in the shoes has elevated levels of Chromium VI