European Union 3/1

The European Union has harmonized the laws in all EU countries with the Textile Regulation (EU) No..1007/2011 on textile fiber names and related labelling and marking of the fiber composition of textile products. This was done to protect the interests of consumers and eliminate potential barriers to the smooth functioning of the internal market..

The main elements are:

  • General compliance with the full fiber composition of textile products;
  • Minimum technical requirements for applications for a new fiber name ;
  • The requirement to indicate the presence of non-textile parts of animal origin;
  • Exemption for customized products made by self-employed tailors;
  • According to the regulation, textile products shall be distinguished whenever they are available on the market:
  • The indication of the fiber composition of a product is mandatory at all stages of the industrial processing and commercial distribution of that product
  • All products containing at least 80% by weight of textile fibers, including raw, semi-worked, worked, semi-manufactured, semi-made, and made-up products are covered by the Regulation.t
  • The Regulation does not cover size, country of origin, or wash/care labelling

Requesting a new Fiber name

The information required to submit an application to amend Regulation (EU) No.1007/2011 shall comply with the minimum requirements set out in Annex II of the Regulation

Each application and its technical file will be examined according to the following criteria:

  • The fiber is radically different from other fibers by chemical composition and/or by fiber properties؛
  • The fiber is detectable and distinguishable from other fibers by standardized test methods
  • The fiber is commercially available from at least two independent producers
  • A new generic name is justified as the fiber cannot be classified into an existing generic name.

If deemed necessary, samples of the fiber (yarns and/or fabrics) provided by the applicant will undergo a technical analysis of the proposed fiber parameters, such as agreed allowance, correction d factors for loss in mass (to be applied for each method) etc. The purpose is to assess whether the fiber is identifiable and distinguishable from other already existing fibers..

Further information available on the following website : Legislation europa.eu

  • Care instructions should be indicated primarily by symbols, but may be accompanied by words, when necessary, but words should be kept to a minimum
  • Care instructions shall include, in this order:
    • Washing
    • Chlorine-based bleaching
    • Drying
    • Ironing
    • Dry cleaning
    • Tumble drying
  • Ready-made apparel products shall bear their country of origin
  • Required information shall be written in Arabic only or in Arabic and English
  • Ready-made apparel products shall bear fiber identity labeling
  • Per the standard, fiber content shall be expressed as a percentage, by mass
  • Ready-made apparel products shall bear manufacturer or importer identity labelling
  • All textile products shall bear size labeling.

Further information may be found via the following link: Care Labeling Legislation Guide

  • U.S. Customs laws require that all foreign-produced clothing be identified by the country of origin marking.
  • All wearing apparel items shall be marked with the name of the country of origin by means of a fabric label unless a precedent exists which has ruled in favor of another form of marking. Following are the general rules for locating such a fabric label on upper and lower body garments
  • In the case of garments that cover the upper torso such as shirts, blouses, coats, sweaters, dresses and similar apparel, country of origin marking shall be placed on the “inside center of the neck midway between the shoulder seams or in that immediate area”.
  • "Trousers, slacks, jeans and similar wearing apparel shall be marked by means of a permanent label affixed in a conspicuous location on the garment, such as the inside of the waistband” "

The following information should be included in English for editing or labelling purposes:

  • Fiber content, by percentage in descending order by weight, using generic fiber names
  • Fiber names approved by the FTC or by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) may be used. For example, either spandex (an FTC approved name) or elastane (an ISO approved name) may be used to name the same fiber..

Further information may be found via the following link: : Marking Requirements for Wearing Apparel

  • The Flammable Fabric Act prohibits the manufacture for sale, the sale, or the offering for sale, in commerce, or the importation into the United States, or the introduction, delivery for introduction, transportation or causing to be transported, in commerce, or the sale or delivery after a sale or shipment in commerce of any product, fabric, or related material which fails to conform to flammability standards or regulations issued under this Act. Standards have been established for the flammability of clothing textiles, vinyl plastic film (used in clothing), carpets and rugs, children's sleepwear, and mattresses and mattress pads.
  • Children’s sleepwear shall be flame resistant and self-extinguish when exposed to a small ignition source. The rules cover all children’s sleepwear between size 9 months and size 14. The fabric, seams, trim, and garments shall pass certain flammability tests or the garment shall be tight-fitting as defined by specified dimensions..
  • The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA ) (CPSIA) enacted in 2008 regulates specific substances in children’s products, including children’s apparel and sleepwear. The CPSIA sets limits for lead content and phthalates in children’s products. With respect to children’s apparel, Section 101(a) of the CPSIA restricts children’s products, including children’s apparel and sleepwear, to a lead content limit of 100 parts per million (ppm). In addition, the use of paint or similar surface coating on children’s apparel and sleepwear shall not exceed a lead content limit of 90 ppm

Further information may be found via the following link:: : A Guide to United States Apparel and Household Textiles Compliance Requirements

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