Eurofins Softlines & Leather Monthly Bulletin (September 2025)

EUROPE

Textiles standard updates

The table below 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 a European Norm (EN) (and Harmonisation Document (HD) for the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC)) must be withdrawn.

EU launches tender for EU Ecolabel scheme

On 4 July 2025, the European Commission launched a tender to ensure the representation of three specific categories of stakeholders in the EU Ecolabel implementation. Specifically:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

The idea is for these three groups to be well represented and actively participate in board meetings and working groups to develop or revise the ecolabel criteria, improve market presence, and increase recognition.

For more information, please refer to the tender call in EU funding and tenders portal here.  

FRANCE

Modification of the specifications of eco-organisations, individual systems, and EPR for the TLC sector

On 14 August 2025, the French Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea and Fisheries published the Order of 13 August 2025, amending the Order of 23 November 2022 containing the specifications for organic organisations and individual systems in the extended producer responsibility (EPR) sector for the textile, footwear, and household linen sector. This order includes the addition of two subparagraphs to section 3.4.2 of the specification relating to financial support for sorting operators.

For more information, please refer to the official journal (JORF nº0188 of 14 August 2025) here.

French draft Decree defines PFAS limits and exemptions

On 7 August 2025, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea and Fisheries notified the European Commission of a Decree related to the prevention of risks arising from PFAS exposure (2025/0431/FR).

This Decree is adopted pursuant to Article 1(1) of Law No 2025-188 of 27 February 2025 on the protection of the population from risks associated with PFAS. This Decree defines the PFAS concentration limit beyond which prohibitions apply, as well as outlining a list of products that are exempt from these prohibitions.

This Decree is expected to be published in December 2025.

UNITED STATES

Minnesota extends PFAS reporting deadline by six months

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has announced a six-month extension to the initial reporting deadline under Amara’s Law—the state’s PFAS pollution prevention statute enacted in 2023. The new due date for manufacturers to submit PFAS-related product information is now 1 July 2026, six months from the original 1 January 2026 deadline.

The MPCA cited two primary reasons for the extension:

• Supplier coordination: manufacturers needed more time to establish agreements with suppliers to report PFAS data on their behalf—a permitted approach under the proposed rules.
• Platform readiness: the PFAS Reporting and Information System of Minnesota (PRISM), the web portal designated for reporting, will be available in late 2025, requiring additional familiarisation time for users.

According to the MPCA, these accommodations aim to enhance both the quality and completeness of PFAS data submitted.

Illinois enacts HB 2516: phasing out intentionally added PFAS from consumer goods

The state of Illinois approved House Bill 2516 on 15 August 2025, marking a major expansion of the state’s PFAS Reduction Act beyond Class B firefighting foams. The legislation phases out PFAS additives in key consumer products and tasks the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with reviewing the safety of fluoropolymers used in such products, which are defined as polymers with multiple carbon-fluorine bonds in their molecular structure.

Key Provisions

From 1 January 2032, the following products containing intentionally added PFAS may no longer be sold or distributed in Illinois:

• Cosmetics, including soaps
• Dental floss
• Juvenile products
• Menstrual products
• Intimate apparel
  
  

Exemptions from the ban

Products exempt from the ban include:

• Medical devices or drugs, as regulated by the FDA
• Used or re-sold items
• Internal electronic components
• Items regulated under federal pesticide law (FIFRA)

IEPA Reporting on Fluoropolymers

The law also directs the Illinois EPA to submit a report by 1 August 2027 that covers:

1. The state’s regulatory and administrative readiness to review fluoropolymers in consumer products.
2. Assessment of scientific data and existing regulatory actions on fluoropolymers.

Identification of potentially critical uses of fluoropolymers and their supply chain implications.

Key newly exempted items

• Ink pens and mechanical pencils are no longer classified as “school supplies” under the statute.
• The term “paints” in the art supplies category is restricted to children’s paints only.
• Professional artist materials—such as oil-based and water-based paints, pastels, pigments, ceramic glazes, markers, and encaustics—are now excluded.
• Products containing lead only in internal solder are exempt until 1 July 2028, but manufacturers must submit biennial reports about alternatives and phase-out plans thereafter.
• Keys, key chains, and key rings with lead content are exempt if available before 1 July 2028. Even after that date, keys with at least 1.5% lead content remain permitted.
• Cast iron or steel pots and pans are exempt if lead is ≤90 ppm and cadmium is in the enamel, so long as the enamel does not come into contact with food.

Standards updates

The table below summarises some recent ASTM standards updates:

PRODUCT RECALLS / ALERTS

Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source: “Safety Gate (RAPEX)”), the United Kingdom (Source: “OPSS”), and the United States (Source: “CPSC”).

Europe

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

The following 6 alerts regarding clothing, textile and fashion items were reported between week 28 and week 31 of 2025.

United Kingdom

Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issues Product Safety Alerts to the U.K. market. The following 4 alerts regarding clothing, textile, and fashion item was issued between week 28 and week 31 of 2025.

United States

From 31 July 2025 to 21 August 2025, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 4 recalls of textile & leather products