Eurofins Softlines & Leather Monthly Bulletin (June 2021)
EUROPE
Public consultation on sustainable textiles is opened
On 12 May 2021, the European Commission opened a public consultation on the European strategy for sustainable textiles.
The textile industry ranks fourth in resources usage (primary raw materials and water) and fifth in GHG emission output. Furthermore, it is estimated that less than 1% of all textiles worldwide are recycled into new textiles.
This EU-led strategy aims to promote a circular economy, using various tools such as developing eco-design measures, creating a better business and regulatory environment, and facilitating the transition to a greener and digital approach.
The public consultation will be opened until 4 August 2021.
For more information, visit the European Commission’s website here.
The below 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(*) Date of withdrawal: latest date by which national standards conflicting with an EN (and HD for CENELEC) have to be withdrawn.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 |
Leather - Determination of chlorinated hydrocarbons in leather - Part 1: Chromatographic method for short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) (ISO 18219-1:2021) |
31/12/2021 |
||
Leather - Determination of chlorinated hydrocarbons in leather - Part 2: Chromatographic method for middle-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) (ISO 18219-2:2021) |
31/12/2021 |
||
Textiles - Determination of the recovery from creasing of a folded specimen of fabric by measuring the angle of recovery - Part 1: Method of the horizontally folded specimen (ISO 2313-1:2021) |
31/12/2021 |
||
Textiles - Determination of the recovery from creasing of a folded specimen of fabric by measuring the angle of recovery - Part 2: Method of the vertically folded specimen (ISO 2313-2:2021) |
31/12/2021 |
||
Footwear - Critical substances potentially present in footwear and footwear components - Determination of dimethyl fumarate (DMFU) (ISO 16186:2021) |
31/12/2021 |
FRANCE
Please find below a table summarising the most recent technical publications (non-exhaustive):
Date |
Entity |
Title |
19/05/2021 |
ANSES |
Microplastics and nanomaterials |
U.S.
The table below summarises some recent ASTM standards updates:
Reference |
Title |
Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics (Flexing and Abrasion Method) |
|
Standard Test Method for Determination of Total Silver in Textiles by ICP-OES or ICP-MS Analysis |
CHINA
China publishes updated Standards
On 9 April 2021, the Standardisation Administration of China published the Announcement Nº 3 of 2021, in which 362 recommended national standards were approved. As a result of these recommendations, the standard GB/T 14272-2021 for down garments which replaces the previous version, GB/T 14272-2011, will come into effect on 1 April 2022.
INTERNATIONAL
Regulatory proposals notified to WTO
The table below summarises the most recent notifications made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (non-exhaustive):
Notification number |
Countries |
Title |
Peru |
Technical Document: Guidelines for the manufacture of reusable cloth face-masks for use by the community |
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 25 alerts regarding textile & leather products were reported, between week 21 and week 24 of 2021.
Type of Risk |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
Chemicals |
2 |
Wallet |
Motorcycle gloves |
||
Choking |
3 |
Children's sleeping bag |
Entrapment, Injuries, Suffocation |
1 |
Sleeping bag for babies |
Injuries |
1 |
Children's swing |
Injuries, Strangulation |
8 |
Children's clothing: They include cords with free ends in the hood area and in the waist area. The cords may become trapped during various children’s activities, leading to injuries and/or strangulation. It does not comply with the General Product Safety Directive nor with EN 14682. |
Strangulation |
9 |
Children`s sweatshirt/jacket/raincoat with hood |
Suffocation |
1 |
Infant Swing |
Between 21 May and 20 June 2021, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 1 recall of textile & leather products.
Hazard |
Number of alerts |
Notes |
Entanglement |
1 |
Jackets |