Softlines & Leather | Monthly bulletin | May 2020
Regulatory news - Eurofins updates
The commitment of the textile sector to fighting Covid-19
In the context of the fight against the Coronavirus Covid-19, the French textile industry is mobilising to produce a washable overcoat for caregivers and filtering textile masks for non-sanitary professional use.
The portal for the Economy, Finance, Action and Public Accounts has published information about these two initiatives. For further information, you can visit its website here.
The place of alternative tissue masks in the context of the covid-19 epidemic
Starting from 11th May 2020, it has become mandatory to wear face masks in France in some public areas.
For any seller or importer selling community masks in France, they are required to be compliant with the mandatory requirement outlined by the French government, including performance testing (filtration and breathability) by approved laboratories, logo display and notice of use to consumers.
Click here to read the relevant ANSM publication, and technical documentation.
Standards updates
See below a table 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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.
|
Reference |
Title |
Date of Withdrawal (*) |
Supersedes |
|
Textiles - Quantitative chemical analysis - Part 17: Mixtures of cellulose fibres and certain fibres with chlorofibres and certain other fibres (method using concentrated sulfuric acid) (ISO 1833-17:2019) |
2020-09-30 |
Basic requirements for hygienic masks
The outbreak of COVID 19 has necessitated national authorities to adapt legislation in order to facilitate a required sharp increase of personal protective equipment and barrier products, such as hygienic masks. Hygienic masks are barrier products which are not regulated, but Spain, France and others countries have released some specifications with certain basic requirements, with the aim of providing a safe and suitable product to users.
|
Country |
Specifications |
|
Spain |
The UNE Specification has been published to facilitate the manufacture of reusable masks (UNE 0065 reusable masks, UNE 0064-1 and UNE 0064-2 single use masks) |
|
France |
|
|
Belgium |
|
|
Czech Republic |
|
|
Finland |
|
|
Italy |
Mascherine, le norme tecniche per la produzione (In Italian) |
|
Portugal |
|
|
UK |
|
|
US |
CDC recommends for cloth face coverings |
China released English version of 13 GB standards
On 3rd April 2020, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC) published notice No.5 of 2020 to release an English version of 13 National Standards which are closely relevant to personal health protection.
The entire list of GB standards is outlined below:
|
No. |
Standard No. |
Standard Name |
Language |
|
1 |
GB 19083-2010 |
Technical requirements for protective face mask for medical use |
English |
|
2 |
GB 19082-2009 |
Technical Requirements for single-use protective clothing for medical use |
English |
|
3 |
GB/T 38462-2020 |
Textiles — Nonwoven fabrics for isolation gowns |
English |
|
4 |
GB/T 38014-2019 |
Textiles — Protective nonwoven fabrics for surgical use |
English |
|
5 |
GB/T 32610-2016 |
Technical specification for daily protective masks |
English |
|
6 |
GB/T 38413-2019 |
Textiles — Test methods for filtration of particulate matter |
English |
|
7 |
GB/T 12704.1-2009 |
Textiles — Test method for water-vapour transmission of fabrics — Part 1: Desiccant method |
English |
|
8 |
GB/T 5455-2014 |
Textiles — Burning behavior-determination of damaged length, afterglow time and afterflame time of vertically oriented specimens |
English |
|
9 |
GB/T 12703.3-2009 |
Textile — Evaluation for electrostatic properties — Part 3: Electric charge |
English |
|
10 |
GB/T 24120-2009 |
Textiles — Determination of resistance to water / alcohol solution |
English |
|
11 |
GB/T 14295-2019 |
Air filter |
English |
|
12 |
GB/T 34012-2017 |
Air cleaner for ventilation system |
English |
|
13 |
GB/T 24787-2009 |
Single-use non-sterile rubber surgical gloves — Specification |
English |
The complete notification can be found here (in Chinese).
New specifications for the safety of children's clothing
On 2nd February 2020, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection (BSMI) announced the publication of the amendment to the standard CNS 15291, Safety of Children’s Clothing-Cords and Drawstrings on Children’s Clothing-Specifications, based on the latest child safety standards enacted by the European Union (BE EN 14682).
The main points are:
- Adjusting Tabs: the free ends must be paired with buttons, toggle buttons, or buckles that do not cause entrapment
- Clothing worn from the waist down shall not have free ends of drawstrings longer than 20 cm at each end when the clothing is in a natural relaxed state
- Sleeves, drawstrings, functional cords and decorative cords located below the elbow on long sleeve items shall not hang below the lower edge of the cuff, with the free ends not exceeding 7.5cm
- In regards to halter neck style clothing, as long as no free ends are exposed during wear, it is acceptable to use a clip or fastening for the two cords of the item
Click here to read the relevant BSMI publication.
Regulatory proposals notified to WTO
Please see the below table summarising the most recent notifications made to the World Trade Organization (non-exhaustive):
|
Notification number / Link |
Country |
Title |
|
Turkey |
Communiqué on TS EN ISO 2398 Rubber Hoses, Textile-Reinforced, For Compressed Air - Specification Standard
This standard covers the requirements for three types, three classes and two categories of textile reinforced rubber hoses for compressed air, with an operating temperature of -40°C to +70°C, and the highest working pressure of 25 bar, depending on the type and category |
|
|
Turkey |
Communiqué on TS 2793/T1 Textile-Wool Woven Fabrics for Apparel Use
This standard covers the sample description, characteristics, sampling, inspection and and placing on market procedures for textile - wool woven fabrics used for apparel. This standard does not apply to fabrics used in clothing accessories (necktie etc.) and fabrics used for decoration (upholstery, drapery, drape etc.) |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
This regulation specifies the following: Terms and Definitions, scope, objectives, supplier Obligations, Labeling, Conformity Assessment Procedures, Responsibilities of regulatory authorities, the authorities of market survey Responsibilities, Violations and Penalties, general rules, Transitional rules, Appendix
This regulation specifies the following: Terms and Definitions, scope, objectives, supplier Obligations, Labeling, Conformity Assessment Procedures, Responsibilities of regulatory authorities, the authorities of market survey Responsibilities, Violations and Penalties, general rules, Transitional rules, Appendix (lists, types) |
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 21 alerts regarding Childcare articles, equipment and toys have been reported, from week 12 to week 15 of 2020.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Chemicals |
5 |
Clothing material contains an excessive amount of lead, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), notably chrysene, benzo(e)pyrene and benzo(e)anthracen |
|
Shoes: The leather in the product contains chromium VI |
||
|
Injuries |
11 |
Children's clothes: Clothes have long functional cords at the waist area. Cords do not comply with EN 14682 |
|
Injuries, Strangulation |
2 |
Swimsuit: Swimsuit has functional cords intended to be tied at the back area. The cords can become tangled or caught in other objects during various activities of a child, leading to injury. Swimsuit does not comply with the standard EN 14682 |
|
Strangulation |
3 |
The product contains cords with free ends around the neck area. Product does not comply with the standard EN 14682 |
From the 16st March 2020 to the 15th April of 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 |
|
Toxic |
1 |
Children’s winter boots: The boot’s sole contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban |
Chem-MAP® accepted as ZDHC MRSL Version 2.0 certifier – Levels 1, 2 and 3
On 18th March 2020, ZDHC announced Chem-MAP® as an approved certifier to the ZDHC MRSL V2.0 across all conformity levels (1,2 and 3). The ZDHC MRSL V2.0 supports good chemical management by helping to avoid the use of banned substances during production and manufacturing in the apparel and footwear industries.
Community masks testing for France
Eurofins has been nominated by the French DGE (Direction Générale des Entreprises) as an approved laboratory to perform the mandatory tests to sell community masks (for non-sanitary usages) in France.
Read here for more information about Eurofins services and here for ANSM publication.
On-demand free technical webinars
We have organised webinars on different topics such as EU REACH and EU childrenswear safety compliance. Retrieve them at our Webinar sections!
