Eurofins | Newsflash - June 2018 | Textile and Consumer goods
Europe - Textile
Recently published standards
Below you will find a list of standard references that have been recently published by CEN (non-exhaustive):
(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN have to be withdrawn
Standard | Title | Supersedes | Date of availability | Date of withdrawal* |
Textiles - Measurement of water vapour permeability of textiles for the purpose of quality control (ISO 15496:2018) |
EN ISO 15496:2004 +AC:2006 |
2018-05-16 |
2018-11-30 |
|
Footwear - Test methods for stiffeners and toepuffs - Bondability (ISO 20863:2018) |
EN ISO 20863:2004 |
2018-05-09 |
2018-11-30 |
|
Textiles - Professional care, drycleaning and wetcleaning of fabrics and garments - Part 4: Procedure for testing performance when cleaning and finishing using simulated wetcleaning (ISO 3175-4:2018) |
EN ISO 3175-4:2003 +AC:2012 |
2018-05-16 |
2018-11-30 |
|
Textiles - Determination of resistance to water penetration - Hydrostatic pressure test (ISO 811:2018) |
EN 20811:1992 |
2018-05-16 |
2018-11-30 |
US (Connecticut) - Textile
Expected approval of Microfiber Bill On 1st March, the Bill SB 341 was introduced. This legislation establishes a clothing labelling program that is intended to reduce the amount of microfiber plastic in the State's waterways. |
US (New York) - Textile
Additional proposed requirements for Microfiber clothing labelling
On 8th May, the New York State Assembly published Bill number A 10599 for its approbation.
This legislation would require that, from 1st January 2020, any new clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than 50% synthetic material shall bear a label with the following statements, according to the type of product:
For clothing for which machine washing or hand washing is recommended or required | "This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution. Hand washing recommended to reduce shedding." |
For clothing for which dry cleaning is required | “This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution. Dry clean only." |
For all other clothing that does not meet the above descriptions | "This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution." |
This act shall take effect immediately after it’s approved.
China - Textile and Related
Updates of standards On 30th April, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China published the announcement No. 23 of 2018 with the industry update standard list.
Click here for getting the official publication of the announcement No. 23 of 2018 (in Chinese). |
China - Textile
Updated natural fibers –terminology standard
On 1st September, the standard GB/T 11951-1989 will be superseded by the new updated version GB/T 11951-2018.
Brief summary of some updates in this version are:
- Added “fibers secreted by some molluscs”, such as Byssus, in the classification of animal fibers type
- Modifications and additions in the generic names list
- Deleted: The terms and definition of zhong wei wool (中卫山羊毛).
- Some fiber explanations added (like “Horse”)
Click here to access China National Standards (GB) website.
Europe - Consumer goods
Reduction of plastics in the environment The single use plastic (SUP) items represent about half of all marine litter items found on European beaches. The problem of marine litter is transboundary by nature, as litter moves in the marine environment and litter originating from one country can affect others. It is for this reason that a joint action is needed to reduce it. |
- EU plastic strategy
- Initiative towards an EU Product Policy Framework contributing to the Circular Economy
- Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste
- The last publication: Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment with reference (COM/2018/340 final - 2018/0172 (COD)).
This last proposal was published on 28th May with the main objective of preventing and reducing plastic marine litter. This proposal applies a SUP items and fishing gear containing plastic.
At national level there are countries that are already working in national bans such as UK with “The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) Regulations 2018” and France that will ban plastic cups, plates and cutlery of only one use by 2020. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is also working in the restriction of microplastics.
Click here for getting the European Commission Press release about Single-use plastics.
Click here for getting the ECHA article related to Plastics, chemicals and regulation.
Europe - Consumer goods
Amending the period of validity of the EU ecolabel for indoor paints and varnishes
On 2nd May, the European Commission published the Commission Decision (EU) 2018/666 of 27 April 2018 amending Decision 2014/312/EU as regards the period of validity of the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (notified under document C(2018) 2479).
According to this amendment, the ecological criteria for the product group “indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes” and the related assessment and verification requirements shall be valid until 31st December 2022
Click here for getting the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
France - Consumer goods
Safety requirements for portable ladders, stepladders and footboards On 4th April, the Notice on the application of Decree No 96-333 of 10 April 1996 on consumer safety with regard to portable ladders, stepladders and steps was published. |
US (San Francisco) - Consumer goods
New requirements for flame retardants in upholstered furniture and juvenile products
The “Flame Retardant Chemicals in Upholstered Furniture and Juvenile Products Ordinance” was signed by the Mayor on 23rd April and it come into effect on 1st January, 2019.
The Ordinance prohibits the sale of upholstered furniture and certain juvenile products that contain or is made with a flame retardant chemical at a level above 1,000 parts per million. For products with electrical or electronic components containing or made with a flame retardant chemical at a level above 1,000 parts per million shall comply beginning 1st July, 2019.
Click here for getting the final version of the Ordinance.
US - Consumer goods
New version for candle accessories fire safety standard ASTM has recently published a new version of standard ASTM F2601-18 “Standard Specification for Fire Safety for Candle Accessories”.
Click here to access the ASTM website. |
US - Consumer goods
Proposals of New limits for VOC in consumer products
Last April, Ohio and California States notified to World trade Organization their corresponding proposals to amend legislations regarding VOC substances in consumer goods.
Date | Reference | Title | Aim |
2018/04/24 |
Volatile Organic Compound Limits in Consumer Products (Ohio) |
Establishing the new limits for volatile organic compounds (VOC) in consumer products, such as paint, cleaning products and beauty products |
|
2018/04/30 |
Proposed Amendments to the Consumer Products Regulation (California) |
Protecting the consumer and the environment limiting the VOC content and maintain the ozone air quality benefits. The idea is to continue offering effective products without increasing the cost on the market |
Canada - Consumer goods
Children’s Jewellery Regulations Update On 2nd May, Canada authorities published “Children’s Jewellery Regulations: SOR/2018-82” in the Canada Gazette. |
Canada - Consumer goods
New “Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations”
On 2nd May, Canada authorities published the updated “Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations (SOR/2018-83)” repealing the “Consumer Products Containing Lead (Contact with Mouth) Regulations (SOR/2010-273)”
The new Regulations maintain the same lead limit as the previous ones but extend the scope of application
These regulations apply to the following products:
- Products that can be in contact with mouth during normal use (except kitchen utensils or product subject to the Glazed Ceramics and Glassware Regulations).
- Products intended for use by a child under 14 years:
- Any clothing or clothing accessory
- Products that are intended for use in learning or play
- Book or similar printed product (with some exceptions)
- Products whose primary purpose is to facilitate the relaxation, sleep, hygiene, carrying or transportation of a child under four years of age.
Any accessible part (that may be touched, licked, mouthed or swallowed during foreseeable use of the product) of the above mentioned consumer products must not contain more than 90 mg/kg of lead (with some exceptions as described in Section 2 (2) of the Regulations)
The regulations would come into force on 2nd November , 2018.