Eurofins Softlines & Leather Monthly Bulletin (May 2022)

EUROPE

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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.

CEN
Reference	Title	*Date of withdrawal ()**	Supersedes
EN ISO 5402-1:2022	Leather - Determination of flex resistance - Part 1: Flexometer method (ISO 5402-1:2022)	31-10-2022	EN ISO 5402-1:2017

Technical publications

The latest publications by Anses related to textile and footwear:

Date	Publication
March 2022	Wellbeing Wardrobe: A wellbeing economy for the fashion and textile sector
April 2022	The Swedish Textile Initiative for Climate Action

FRANCE

Approved Sorting info and Triman signage for textile sector

On 1 February 2022, the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition approved the symbols to indicate the sorting info with the Triman logo for textiles, household linen and footwear submitted by the eco-organisation Re_fashion according to the implementation of AGEC law. This information will become mandatory in the French market from 1 February 2023. Further, inventory existing as of 1 February 2023, may continue to be distributed until 1 August 2023.

It must be taken into account that if the product is inside or packed in a package, the info-tri and Triman logo related to the package must be indicated. Specialist packaging eco-organisations have their own approved symbols. It will be mandatory from 09 September 2022.

For more information, consult the Re_Fashion website here.

The environmental labelling of waste-generating products

On 29 April 2022, the French authorities published the Decree No. 2022-748 of 29 April 2022 regarding consumer information on the environmental qualities and characteristics of waste-generating products.

Producers, importers and distributors of products that generate residues intended for consumers, including those that use a web site, platform or other online distribution channel must inform the consumer on the qualities and environmental characteristics of products that generate waste according to compliance with the obligation provided for by article L. 541-9-1 of the environmental code.

Article R. 541-223 enters into force the day after the publication of this decree. The products or containers to which it applies benefit from a stock reduction period until1 January 2023, provided that they have been manufactured or imported before the date of publication of this decree. Articles R. 541-220 to R. 541-222 come into force from 1 January 2023 gradually, by company level.

For more information, please consult the official publication here.

Maryland enacts new PFAS in products law

On 21 April 2022, the State of Maryland approved SB 273, Chapter 139, an Act concerning “Environment – PFAS Chemicals – Prohibitions and Requirements”. Effective 1 January 2024, the new law will prohibit intentionally added PFAS chemicals in the following products:

Class B fire-fighting foam;
Rugs and carpets;
Food packages that are composed of paper, paperboards or other materials originally derived from plant fibers; and
Plastic disposable gloves used in commercial or institutional food service

PFAS chemicals are defined as a class of fluorinated organic chemicals that contain at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and are designed to be fully functional in Class B fire-fighting foam formulations.

Please see the table below for a summary of the new PFAS law.

Substance	Product Category	Requirement	Remarks	Effective Date
PFAS	Class B fire-fighting foam	Prohibited	Use in airports, ports, refineries, or chemical plants exempted until 30 September 2024 Use in terminals exempted until 31 December 2027 Use by a person that is required to use a foam that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals exempted until any applicable date specified by federal law	1 January 2024
	Rugs and Carpets	Prohibited	Must establish a certificate of compliance to attest compliance Used rugs are exempt	1 January 2024
	Food packages that are composed of paper, paperboards or other materials originally derived from plant fibers	Prohibited	Must establish a certificate of compliance to attest compliance	1 January 2024
	Plastic disposable gloves used in commercial or institutional food service	Prohibited	Must establish a certificate of compliance to attest compliance	1 January 2024

CHINA

China releases new product standards

On 22 April 2022, The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released various new industry and national product standards. Please see table below with the relevant standard (non- exhaustive list):

Standard	Scope
FZ/T 08001-2021	Wool wadding garments
FZ/T 08002-2022	Textile products for newborns
FZ/T 24029-2022	Double-layer cashmere and silk woven scarf and shawl
FZ/T 24030-2022	Woolen vicuna fabrics
FZ/T 24031-2022	Woolen rabbit hair fabrics
FZ/T 24032-2022	Antistatic woven fabrics
FZ/T 24033-2022	Fully fashioned wool knitted garments
FZ/T 25006-2022	Thin warp-knitted blanket
FZ/T 34013-2022	Bast fibres textile products with natural UV protection
FZ/T 34014-2022	Bast fibres textile products with natural moisture absorption and quick-drying properties
FZ/T 34015-2022	Bast fibres textile products with natural moisture absorption and air permeability
FZ/T 34016-2022	Bast fibres textile products with natural bacteriostasis feature
FZ/T 73069-2022	Brassiere for young girls
FZ/T 73070-2022	Nude bra with knitted fabric
FZ/T 73071-2022	Knitted arm sleeve
FZ/T 81004-2022	Dress and suit
FZ/T 81007-2022	Casual wear
FZ/T 81017-2022	Full canvas suits
FZ/T 81024-2022	Woven cape
GB/T 41002-2022	Children’s case and bag
QB/T 4331-2021	Children’s athletic shoes
QB/T 4546-2021	Children’s leather sandals

For more information, consult the MIIT announcement No. 10 here ( in Chinese).

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 15 alerts regarding textile & leather products were reported between week 17 and week 20 of 2022

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Chemicals	1	Gloves The product's leather has an excessive amount of Chromium (VI). It does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Shirt The product contains an excessive amount of bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). It does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
	1	Baby shoes The product's leather has an excessive amount of Chromium (VI). It does not comply with the REACH Regulation.
Injuries	1	Children's blouse The blouse has long cords with free ends at the waist. It does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive nor with EN 14682.
Injuries	3	Children's dress There are long functional cords, long cords with free ends, and/or long drawstrings in the waist area. They do not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive nor with EN 14682.
Injuries, Strangulation	4	Children's sports outfit The products bear cords with free ends and/or toggles in the hood area. They do not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive nor with EN 14682.
Injuries, Strangulation	1	Children's blouse The blouse has long cords to be tied at the upper front area. It does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive nor with EN 14682.
Strangulation	2	Children's hoodie There are long functional cords with free ends in the hood of the sweatshirt and drawstrings with free ends at the neck area on the garment. They do not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive nor with EN 14682.
Strangulation	1	Children's bikini The top has functional cords with free ends in the neck and back area. t does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive nor with EN 14682.

OPSS issues Product Safety Alerts on the UK market. The following The following 6 alerts regarding textiles & leather products were reported between week 17 and week 20 of 2022.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Fire	1	Cushion covers The cushion covers’ fire-retardant effectiveness may deteriorate over time, presenting an increased risk of fire.
Burn, injuries	1	Children’s pajamas They fail to meet the federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear.
Fire and burn	1	Heated blankets The blanket can overheat if left plugged in and powered on for an extended period of time.
Burn, injuries	2	Children’s robes The children’s robes fail to meet flammability standards for children’s sleepwear.
Choking and laceration	1	Jumpsuits, rompers, snap suits, baby dresses and bibs The snaps on the recalled garments can detach and also expose small sharp prongs.