Eurofins Softlines & Leather Monthly Bulletin (March 2022)

EUROPE

European public consultation

Please find below a table summarising recent public consultation (non-exhaustive):

Standards updates

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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

FRANCE

Mandatory requirement of EPR obligations: IDU number

From 1 January 2022, any producer who fulfills the obligations of EPR must have a Unique Identification Number (IDU).

The IDU is proof that the individual is indeed registered as required by the AGEC law (cf. article L. 541-10-13 of the environment code) and fulfills the EPR obligations (cf. article L. 541-10-10 of the environment code).

This unique identifier is generated by the French Agency for the Ecological Transition (ADEME) through the SYDEREP registration.

ADEME uses it to facilitate the monitoring and control of compliance with EPR obligations incumbent on these producers and to identify producers in an individual system or members of an eco-organisation.

The IDU must be indicated in the document relating to the general conditions of sale or, if the individual does not have one, in any other contractual document communicated to the buyer (cf. article R. 541- 173 of the environmental code). Any producer with a website must communicate their UDI according to article 19 of law no. 2004-575 of June 21, 2004 on confidence in the digital economy.

Some producers register in an eco-organisation, which can receive and process tax returns, collect contributions and provide guidance on environmental labelLing for the French market.

Donating process of unsold non-food items

On 15 February 2022, the Minister of Economy, Finances and Reliance published information about the process of donating unsold non-food items.

Since 1 January 2022, whether you are a producer, importer or distributor, the anti-waste law for a circular economy (known as the AGEC law) obligates that you reuse or recycle unsold non-food products. Only unsold hygiene and childcare products must be donated as a priority. However, many other products can be donated, for example:

• Hygiene products: soaps, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shower gels, etc.
• Cleaning products: detergents, dishwashing products, WC products, etc.
• Childcare items: nappies, cleaning wipes, strollers, etc.
• Toys and games: stuffed animals, dolls, early learning games, etc.
• School supplies: notebooks, binders, pens, calculators, etc.
• Small household appliances: irons, kettles, coffee machines, etc.
• Textiles and household linen: duvets, blankets, sleeping bags, etc.
• Household equipment: crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, etc.

For more information, consult the Ministry of the Economy, Finances and Reliance website here.

Technical publications

The latest publications by several French entities related to textile products and environmental:

PORTUGAL

New definitions for Leather products

On 4 January 2022, Decree-Law No. 3/2022 was published in Diário da República No. 2/2022 on the use of the term "leather" and its conformity.

The growing diversity of products that use leather as a raw material is increasingly faced with the availability of synthetic products on the market, that give rise to erroneous interpretations of their composition, distorting competition and the information that consumers receive.

This Decree defines the term "leather", establishes the conditions for its use and verification of the conformity of leather products with the latest version of the EN/ISO 17131 Standard and the EN 15987 Standard.

This decree law entered into force on 1 January 2022, but the materials and products placed on the market before entry into force of this Decree Law can be sold until 31 December 2022.

US

TSCA PIP (3:1) - EPA further extends the compliance date

In March 2022, the USA Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) issued a final rule to further extend the compliance date applicable to the prohibition on processing and distribution in commerce of certain PIP (3:1)-containing articles and the PIP (3:1) used to make those articles, until 31 October 2024.

This final rule became effective on 8 March 2022.

For more information, click here.

Listed PFOA as a chemical that cause cancer under California Proposition 65

On 25 February 2022, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (CAS RN 335-67-1) was added to the list of cancer-causing chemicals of the California Proposition 65 by The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).

Businesses have a time frame to accommodate the requirements of Prop 65, 12 months for articles (clear and reasonable warning before exposure to anyone) and 20 months for the prohibition from discharging into sources of drinking water.

For more information, consult the official publication here.

PRODUCT RECALLS / ALERTS

Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source “RAPEX”) and the U.S. (Source “CPSC”).

Europe

RAPEX (European Commission Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products – Alerts reported by EU national authorities).

The following 12 alerts regarding textile & leather products were reported between week 08 and week 11 of 2022.

UK

OPSS issues Product Safety Alerts on the UK market. The following The following 1 alert regarding textile & leather products was reported between week 08 and week 11 of 2022.

U.S.

Between 21 February 2022 and 20 March 2022, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 1 recall of textile & leather products.