Eurofins Softlines & Leather Monthly Bulletin (October 2022)

EUROPE

Standards updates

The following table summarises the most recent standard updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):

(*) Date of withdrawal: the latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.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 15701:2022	Leather - Tests for colour fastness - Colour fastness to migration into polymeric material (ISO 15701:2022)	28-02-2023	EN ISO 15701:2015
EN ISO 17072-2:2022	Leather - Chemical determination of metal content - Part 2: Total metal content (ISO 17072-2:2022)	31-03-2023	EN ISO 17072-2:2019
EN ISO 20535:2022	Footwear - Test method for insoles and insocks - Dimensional change after cycle of wetting and drying (ISO 20535:2019)	28-02-2023
EN 17681-2:2022	Textiles and textile products - Organic fluorine - Part 2: Determination of volatile compounds by extraction method using gas chromatography	31-03-2023
EN 17681-1:2022	Textiles and textile products - Organic fluorine - Part 1: Determination of non-volatile compounds by extraction method using liquid chromatography	31-03-2023

The goods described, in the Annexes, shall be classified within the Combined Nomenclature under the CN code indicated in those Annexes.

Binding tariff information which does not conform with this Regulation may continue to be invoked in accordance with Article 34(9) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 until 4 January 2023.

European Parliament resolution regarding genetically modified cotton

Recent publications by European Commission related to the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton:

Date	Publication
06-09-2022	European Parliament resolution of 15 February 2022 on the draft Commission implemented the renewal of the authorization to place products containing, consisting of, or produced from genetically modified cotton GHB614 (BCS-GHØØ2-5) on the market, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D076839/01 — 2021/3006(RSP))
09-09-2022	European Parliament resolution of 9 March 2022 on the draft Commission implemented the renewal of the authorization to place products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified cotton GHB811 (BCS-GH811-4) on the market, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (D077486/02 — 2021/3057(RSP))

FRANCE

Draft new specifications for the extended responsibility sector of producers of textiles, footwear and household linen

On 28 September 2022, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition opened the following public consultation until 26 October 2022:

Draft decree on the specifications of the eco-organizations and individual systems of the sector of extended responsibility of the producers of textiles, footwear and household linen (TLC).

The draft order includes five articles and three appendices, the first concerning the provisions of the specifications for eco-organisations, the second the specifications for individual systems, and the third listing the sustainability criteria used for establishing premiums backed by producer contributions.

This consultation has the following objectives:

Provide bonuses for products that protect the planet: designed to be more sustainable, more environmentally friendly and remanufactured from recycled textiles;
Reduce the cost of repairing textiles to make them last longer;
Develop new solutions for the collection of used textiles, particularly in small towns and rural areas, to give them a second life;
Finance the classification and repair of textiles to give them a second life;
Establish a French sector for the recycling of non-reusable textiles to remanufacture textiles without depleting our resources.

At the end of the consultation, the new specifications will be presented and implemented from 2023 for a period of six years.

Ban on the importation of cat and dog fur

On 27 September 2022, The UK Secretary of State published the following statutory instrument:

The Cat and Dog Fur (Control of Movement etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022 No 1005)

It amends the retained EU legislation, Regulation (EC) No 1523/2007, which bans the placing cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur, from being placed on the market, imported or exported.

This new regulation will ensure that the UK will continue to ban the import of cat and dog fur following its exit from the European Union. However, these regulations will only apply to on goods explicitly sold as cat and dog fur, and do not address the problem of cat fur being imported and sold as ‘faux fur’ in poorly labelled goods.

THAILAND

Thailand to require mandatory standards for synthetic dyes

Thailand has recently issued a Ministerial Regulation to require the synthetic dye product industry to comply with one of five TIS standards. The new regulation will become effective on 19 August 2023. Please see Table 1 below for the list of mandatory standards.

Standard	Title
TIS 739-2563 (2020)	Synthetic Dyestuffs: Direct Dye
TIS 740-2563 (2020)	Synthetic Dyestuffs: Reactive Dye
TIS 760-2563 (2020)	Synthetic Dyestuffs: Vat Dye
TIS 2344-2563 (2020)	Synthetic Dyestuffs: Sulfur Dye
TIS 2532-2563 (2020)	Synthetic Dyestuffs: Acid Dye

PRODUCT RECALLS / ALERTS

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

Europe

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

The following 17 alerts regarding textile & leather products were reported between week 38 and week 42 of 2022.

Type of Risk	Number of alerts	Notes
Chemicals	5	Children's leather shoes The inner layer of the belt contains chromium (VI). The product does not comply with REACH Regulation.
		Flip flops The plastic material of the product contains an excessive concentration of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). The product does not comply with REACH Regulation.
		Children's sandals The plastic material of the product contains diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The product does not comply with REACH Regulation.
Chemical, Environment	1	Flip flops The plastic material of the product contains excessive concentrations of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The product does not comply with REACH Regulation.
Choking	5	Clothing set The small decorative elements on the product (glued on pebbles) can easily detach. The product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive, nor with EN 71-1.
		Children's hat The small decorative elements (stones) can easily be detached from the product. The product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive, nor with EN 71-1.
		Children's blouse The small decorative elements (pebbles) can easily be detached from the product. The product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive, nor with EN 71-1.
		Baby t-shirt and baby clothing set The small decorative elements (beads) can easily be detached from the product. The product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive, nor with EN 71-1.
Injuries	4	Children's dress There are long functional cords in the waist area. The product does not comply with the requirements of General Product Safety Directive, nor with EN 14682.
		Children's sandals The tread part of the interlayer bond between the upper and the sole may tear and break easily, leading to the detachment of the sole from the upper part of the sandal. The product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive.
		Baby dress The safety pin on the brooch can easily be opened, which can cause eye or skin injuries. The product does not comply with the requirements of General Product Safety Directive, nor with EN 14682.
Injuries, Strangulation	1	Babies’ clothing set There are long functional cords with free ends in the upper chest area. The product does not comply with the requirements of General Product Safety Directive, nor with EN 14682.
Strangulation	1	Children's swimsuit The product bears functional cords close to the neck and in the back area. The product does not comply with the requirements of the General Product Safety Directive, nor with the European standard EN 14682.

U.S.

From 29 September 2022 to 20 October 2022, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 3 recalls of textile & leather products

Hazard	Number of alerts	Notes
Burn	2	Bathrobes The children’s bathrobes fail to meet the flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.
Burn	2	Nightgown The children’s nightgowns fail to meet the flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.
Entrapment and strangulation	1	Baby blanket The threads in the recalled woven baby blankets can come loose and detach posing choking, entrapment and strangulation hazards.