In July 2026, the European Commission published a new initiative aimed at adapting existing EU reporting requirements for used textiles and textile waste following the 2025 amendment of the Waste Framework Directive. The measure will take the form of an Implementing Decision that amends Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2019/1004 and (EU) 2021/19.
The purpose of the initiative is to align current reporting obligations with the new requirements introduced under the revised Waste Framework Directive. The key points are:
For more information, please consult the European Commission website here.
On 2 July 2026, the European Commission officially designated Greece's General Chemical State Laboratory (GCSL) as the European Union's testing facility for textiles, strengthening the EU's market surveillance and product compliance framework for textile products.
The appointment was made through Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1481, under Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and product compliance. The designation follows a competitive call for expressions of interest launched by the European Commission for two product categories: machinery and textiles.
The newly designated Union Testing Facility will support authorities responsible for market surveillance across the EU. Its role includes carrying out testing and technical assessments to verify whether textile products placed on the European market comply with applicable EU legislation. The laboratory's services will be available exclusively to market surveillance authorities, the EU Product Compliance Network, the European Commission, and other governmental or intergovernmental bodies.
In May 2026, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a new study proposing the future content requirements for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for textile apparel products under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The report is expected to serve as the basis for the forthcoming Textile Delegated Act and marks a significant step toward a standardized digital compliance framework for the textile sector.
The Digital Product Passport is intended to become a key tool for demonstrating compliance and providing transparent product information throughout the value chain.
The study excludes several product categories, including:
The JRC proposes that Digital Product Passports contain information grouped into four main categories aligned with Annex III of the ESPR.
Other points that the JRC proposes are:
The European Commission is expected to adopt the final Textile Delegated Act by late 2027. Following the standard transition period, compliance with Digital Product Passport requirements is expected to become mandatory for textile apparel products placed on the EU market.
The Commission is also expected to progressively expand DPP requirements beyond apparel to additional textile categories and eventually to a broader range of consumer products.
The table below summarises the most recent standard updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):
(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with a European Norm (EN) (and Harmonisation Document (HD) for the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC)) must be withdrawn.
(**) Date of announcement: test date by which the existence of an EN (and HD for CENELEC), a TS or a CWA has to be announced at national level.
| The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN)/CENELEC | |||
| Reference | Title | Date of withdrawal (*) |
Supersedes |
| EN ISO 105-X11:2026 | Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part X11: Colour fastness to hot pressing (ISO 105-X11:2026) | 31 December 2026 | EN ISO 105-X11:1996 |
| EN 12131:2026 | Feather and down - Test methods - Determination of the quantitative composition of feather and down (manual method) | 31 January 2027 | EN 12131:2018 |
| Reference | Title | Date of Announcement (**) | Supersedes |
| CEN/TS 18272-1:2026 | Textiles - Circular economy for textile products - Part 1: General principles and guidance | 31 October 2026 | |
Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source: “Safety Gate (RAPEX)”).
Safety Gate (RAPEX) (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).
The following two alerts regarding clothing, textile and fashion items were reported between week 25 and week 28 of 2026.
| Type of risk | Number of alerts | Notes |
| Burns, Chemical, Choking, Injuries | 1 | Hair accessory The battery compartment can easily be opened without use of any tools and the button batteries inside are easily accessible. A child may put them in the mouth and swallow them. The product does not comply with the General Product Safety Regulation. |
| Chemical, Environment | 1 | Purse The plastic material of the product has an excessive concentration of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Additionally, the product has an excessive concentration of short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The product does not comply with the REACH Regulation nor with the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) Regulation. |
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issues Product Safety Alerts to the UK market. The following an alert regarding clothing, textile and fashion items were issued between week 25 and week 28 of 2026.
| Type of risk | Number of alerts | Notes |
|
Chemical |
1 |
Clothing Adornment/Floral Accessories/Badges/Buckles The casings of the heart- and bow-shaped brooches contain an excess of cadmium. The products do not meet the requirements of the REACH Regulations 2008. |
From 9 July 2026 to 30 July of 2026, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 2 recalls of textile & leather products
| Hazard | Number of alerts | Notes |
| Choking | 1 | Children’s sandals The sandals’ decorative pearls can fall off, posing a risk of serious injury or death from a choking hazard. |
| Burn | 1 | Sweaters The recalled sweaters violate the mandatory standard for clothing textiles, posing a risk of serious burn injuries or death. |