Softlines & Leather | Monthly bulletin | November 2019
Regulatory news - Eurofins Updates - Commercial news
CPSC Proposes to exempt certain unfinished manufactured fibers from ASTM F963 elements and Phthalates Tests
On 9th October 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a proposed rule which determines that certain unfinished manufactured fibers would not contain the ASTM F963 elements or specified phthalates exceeding the limits for children's toys and child care articles under CPSC's regulations.
This proposed rule defines unfinished manufactured fiber as one that has no chemical additives added to impart color or some desirable performance property like flame retardancy beyond those required to manufacture the fiber.
16 CFR 1253.2(b) specifies that the following unfinished manufactured fibers do not exceed the ASTM F963 elements solubility limits with a high degree of assurance:
- Nylon
- Polyurethane (Spandex)
- Viscose Rayon
- Acrylic and Modacrylic
- Natural Rubber Latex
And the 16 CFR 1253.2(c) specifies that the following unfinished manufactured fibers do not exceed the phthalates content limits under 16 CFR 1307 with a high degree of assurance:
- Polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET)
- Nylon
- Polyurethane (Spandex)
- Viscose Rayon
- Acrylic and Modacrylic
- Natural Rubber Latex
Based on these proposed determinations, accessible component parts of children's toys and child care articles made with above unfinished manufactured fibers are not required to be third party tested for compliance with the requirements of the ASTM F963 elements or phthalates in 16 CFR 1307.
Comments can be submitted by December 23, 2019. Please click here for more information.
Below a summary table with some recent ASTM standards updates:
|
Reference |
Title |
|
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bedside Sleepers |
No more fur products in shops
On 12th October 2019, California Governor approved the Bill (AB) 44 Fur products: prohibition. This bill makes it unlawful to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or distribute a fur product.
Products such as used fur products, fur products used for specified purposes, and any activity expressly authorized by federal law are exempted.
It will become effective on 1st January 2023 and retailers have two years to sell their inventory of fur products.
Technical Regulation on Labelling of Textile Products
As already announced in our Eurofins News Flash February 2019 edition, on 16th December 2018, MERCOSUR approved Resolution No. 62/18 Technical Regulation on the labelling of textile products. The MERCOSUR member countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) must incorporate this resolution into their own legislation.
Now Eurofins monthly bulletin informs that recently, the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) in Brazil, has published the Ordinance No.296 which Approves this Mercosur Technical Regulation.
Mandatory inspection standard of children’s raincoat
Recently, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) published an announcement indicating the adoption of the recent version of standard CNS 15503 “General requirements for safety of children’s products”, as the inspection standard for children’s raincoat (for heights between 70 cm and 150 cm. Waterproof textiles are excluded).
New requirements for Cords and Drawstrings on Children’s Clothing
Recently, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) published the standard CNS 15291:2019 Safety of Children’s Clothing – Cords and Drawstrings on Children’s Clothing – Specifications. This new version is the result of the revision of CNS 15291:2009 with BS EN 14682:2014 with the aim to minimize the risk of accidental entrapment.
Please, click here for getting the BSMI official publication (in Chinese).
New process to import product to Saudi Arabia
On 1st January 2019, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) launched the SABER platform, their own electronic certification system (online portal), which was developed through the “Saudi Product Safety Program” called SALEEM.
Regulatory proposals notified to WTO
Below a summary table with some recent notifications to World Trade Organization (non-exhaustive):
|
Notification number / Link |
Country |
Title |
|
Indonesia |
Draft of Minister of Religious Affairs regarding The Implementation of Halal Product Assurance
This draft technical regulation covers mandatory implementation of halal product assurance in particular products as proven by halal certificate issued by Halal Insurance Agency or other Halal Agencies in with BPJPH. The draft includes stages of Mandatory Halal Product Certification with different transition period of time:
f. Clothing, headgear and accessories 17 October 2021-17 October 2026
Product without halal certificate by 17 October 2019 still can enter, can be distributed and traded in Indonesian market
The product must have marketing authorization, commercial license and or import license |
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 15 alerts regarding textile & leather products have been reported, from week 39 until week 42 of 2019.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Chemical |
2 |
Childrens' sandals: They contain an excessive amount of chromium (VI) in the leather |
|
Injuries |
7 |
Children’s clothes: Long ribbons or cods in the chest or the waist. Not complying with EN 14682 |
|
Strangulation |
6 |
Children’s clothing – There are drawstrings with free ends in the hood. Not complying with EN 14682 |
From 21st September to 20th October 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 1 recalls regarding textile & leather products.
|
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
|
Choking hazard |
1 |
Infant Bibs: The snap on the bibs can detach |
Eurofins open a New laboratory in Tirupur
With more than 8000 square feet area & state-of-art technology and instruments, Eurofins India Lab based at Tirupur(South India) will cater to the needs of Textile and Home textile industry. Lab broader testing scope will cover colorfastness properties, Mechanical, Physico-chemical & RSL test parameters along with special claimed textile testing parameters.
Eurofins | AQM receives APSCA membership!
Eurofins | AQM is now a Provisional Member Firm of the Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA)
Eurofins | AQM is one of the first firms to receive APSCA Provisional Member Firm status based on the new membership requirements. Eurofins | AQM is building up our APSCA certified auditor capacity. We deliver various factory auditing services including social compliance audit, environmental audit, technical audit and ETP/wastewater audit.
Eurofins was present in the ISO Global Standardization Meeting for textiles
Sustainability and microplastics will be two hot standardization topics in the next few years
From 13th to 18th October were celebrated in Ponzano Veneto (Italy) different meetings addressing present and future of international standardization in Textiles.
Fibre2Fashion | Face2Face interview with Stephane Barrau
"Future testing needs to focus on waste, wastewater management", says VP Global Product Testing at Eurofins Group
Insightful interview with Stephane Barrau, Vice President of Eurofins Consumer Product Testing at hashtag#Eurofins Group, discussing the testing landscape for the apparel and textile niches in Fibre2Fashion Pvt. Ltd. magazine.
Learn about supply chain traceability with this Eurofins article
How supply chain mapping can reveal the hidden risks in fashion sourcing?
In August, 32 fashion businesses signed the G7 Fashion Pact to reduce the industry's environmental impact.
Chem-MAP® chemical management systems for the entire supply chain
Discover How MRSL Testing can Help Reduce RSL Failures in Manufacturing and Support ZDHC Objectives
Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) testing is an essential component of chemical risk management, focusing upstream in the supply chain, beyond Restricted Substance Lists (RSL) testing.
Futurmoda 2019 Gallery
Eurofins Textile & Leather Spain was participating at Futurmoda last month where Enrique Rivas, general manager of the Spanish Technical Competence Center, hold the conference "Global Market requeriments for footwear in 2020". Check out the gallery!
Eurofins Spain general manager Enrique Rivas was attending last Futurmoda Edition holding the Conferece "Global Market requeriments for footwear in 2020".
Compliance & Sustainability New York Conference, Nov 13 2019
Just one week to go before the Leather, Compliance & Sustainability New York Conference - Nov 13, New York, Tapestry HQ
The Leather Compliance and Sustainability conference is on Wednesday November 13th next week.
Vietnam International Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition
Join Eurofins in this grand event for brands and manufacturers in the Textile & Garment Industry next 16th-17th November in Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam)
Eurofins will be present in Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (booth 1918 Hall A) during VTG Vietnam where more than 550 brands from 12 countries will join to the exhibitors.
FREE Technical Event on the Challenges of Chemical Management
FREE Technical Event on the Challenges of Chemical Management in the Leather and Textile Industry, Amsterdam, Nov 22 2019
Learning how to better control the factories' practices in terms of chemical management and the elimination of hazardous substances from the supply chain is arguably one of the most critical challenges facing brands and retailers.
