Regulatory Trends In Textiles – A 12-18 Month Outlook

This blog was originally posted on 15th February, 2024. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.

AUTHORED BY BETH MCCALISTER, SENIOR REGULATORY CONSULTANT, COMPLIANCE & RISKS

The textiles regulatory environment is ever-changing, especially considering chemical, labeling, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) issues that the industry faces today.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – chemicals used in apparel, footwear, accessories, and domestic textiles to make them water- and stain-resistant – continue to be primary concerns of governments and, therefore, manufacturers.
Labeling is also on the forefront in the EU, which is currently considering revisions to Regulation (EU) 1007/2011, which may include, among other issues:

• Updates to fiber identification requirements;
• Digital labeling;
• Language independent symbols or codes; and
• A sustainability and circularity label.

Another key topic is EPR for textiles. The EU and Member States, such as France and the Netherlands, are leading the way in making the textiles industry more sustainable. Regulations already in place set goals to move away from a linear economy and toward a circular one.

Figure 1 illustrates global growth in textiles regulations from 2016 until the present as greater than 56%, with an increase of almost 26% since 2020.

(Source: C2P by Compliance & Risks)

Hot Topics

Shown below are several crucial topics and policy areas of which to be aware in order to bring your product to market and/ or have it remain there:

Sustainable Products In The Limelight

One of the most rapidly increasing areas of interest for the consumer products industry is sustainability. Consumers, lawmakers, industry groups, and producers alike, are recognizing the need to minimize negative environmental impacts on the planet.

For instance, France’s Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy (AGEC) requires textiles – including apparel, household linens and footwear – marketed in France to bear the Triman logo and sorting information, in order to ensure consumers’ ability to recycle these products at the end of their useful life.

Other geographies, such as the Netherlands and the US state of California, are following suit.

As the textiles industry is responsible for some of the worst effects on the environment and climate change, increases in environmental and EPR legislation and regulations for the same are necessary.

Regulatory Density For Textiles Around The World

(Source: C2P by Compliance & Risks)

Top Trending Regulations

Listed below are the key regulations that will be impacting your business over the next 12-18 months:

• EU: Labelling of Textile Products, Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011
• EU: Waste Directive, 2008/98/EC – Proposed Amendment – (on extended producer responsibility scheme for textiles) Draft Directive, July 2023
• EU: Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, Communication, March 2022
• California (USA): Prohibition of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Textiles, Assembly Bill 1817, February 2022
• France: Triman and Sorting Info for Clothing, Household Linens and Footwear, Guidance Document, February 2022
• Rhode Island (USA): Comprehensive PFAS Ban, House Bill 7436, 2022
• France: Adaptation of Various Provisions on Extended Producer Responsibility, Decree No. 2021-1904
• Washington (USA): Processes for Regulation of Priority Chemicals in Consumer Products, House Bill 1694, 2022
• Australia: Greenwashing by Businesses – Internet Sweep of Environmental Claims, March 2023
• Saudi Arabia: Technical Regulation on Leather Products, Guidance Document, 2022
• Portugal: Leather Authenticity, Decree-Law No. 3/2022
• EU: Microplastics from Textiles: towards a Circular Economy for Textiles in Europe, Briefing, February 2022
• UK: Labelling of Textiles, Guidance Document, February 2021
• EU: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Regulation (EC) 1907/2006
• China: Technical Safety Specifications for Children’s Footwear, Draft Standard GB XXXX-XXXX, April 2021
• New York (USA): Textile Act, Assembly Bill A9649, March 2022
• Mexico: Commercial Information for Labelling of Textile Products, Garments and Household Linen, Standard NOM-004-SE-2021

Stay Up To Date With Global Regulatory Trends

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