Clothes and Shoes [EU]

EU directive applies to the labeling of materials in footwear including parts sold separately. Footwear must bear certain information. At least one of the footwear item must bear the information relating to the upper lining and in sole sock measure of footwear article.

The information must be conveyed by way of certain pictograms or text set out in the directive. It must relate to the material that constitutes at least  80% of the surface area of the upper lining in sole and sock of footwear article and at least 80% of the volume of the outer sole. If no single material accounts for at least 80% information must be given regarding the two main materials in the composition.

The information must be legible, durable and accessible. The manufacturer or as agent established in the EU must supply the label and is responsible for its accuracy. The information specified into directive must be furnished. Additional information may be furnished subject to compliance with general consumer legislation.

An EU directive on naming and labeling of textile products provides the framework applicable to textile names and labeling. It applies to textile products made of textile fibres and products treated as textile products.

Only products compliant with the directive may be marketed. The following do not apply:

• those intended for export outside the EU;
• those entering the EU under customs control for transit purposes;
• those imported into from third countries for inward processing;
• those that are contracted out to persons working in their own homes or independent firms.

The names set out in the directive must not used for other fibres. Only textile products composed of the same fibre may be labeled as 100% pure. Wool may be described as pure wool as long as it is composed of one fibre.

Where a textile product is e composed of one or two or more fibres, one of which accounts for 85% of weight, it  is designated by

• the name of the fibre followed by percentage by weight.
• the name of that fibre followed by worlds 85% minimum or
• the full percentage composition of the product.

If all fibres separately account for less than 10% composition, the  term “other fibres” may be used followed by the total percentage or their name as long as the percentage composition of the product is stipulated. The presence of other fibres must be set out in descending order of compostion.

Products having a pure cotton warp or pure flex weft in which the percentage of flax accounts for not less than 40% may be given the name “cotton linen union” followed by “pure cotton weft -pure flex weft.”

For textiles fibres intended for end consumers a quatitiy of re continuous or extraneous fibre up to 2% of total weight is permissible.The tolerance is increased to 5% if they have undergone certain carding processes. A manufacturer tolerance of 3% in relation to total weight of fibre is permitted within percentage stated on the label and percentage found from analysis.

Textile products must be marked when marketed. Where products are not intended for any consumers labeling and marketing, may be replaced by accompanying commercial documents.

If products are intended for end users, names and descriptions and textile fibre content must be clearly legible  indicated on d labels marks packaging and promotional documents. States may require information in their national language or languages.

Textile products containing several components with different compositions  is to have labels stating the fibre content of each component. Two products which are  a single unit may bear only one label.

Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 – fibre names labelling and the marking of the fibre composition of textile products

It seeks to ensure that EU consumers are properly informed and that the EU clothing and textile market operates smoothly.

It lays down rules on

textile fibre names with regard to their definition and use when indicating the fibre composition of textile products;
the labelling of textile products containing non-textile parts of animal origin;
methods of analysis to check information indicated on labels or markings.

Key Points

The law covers:

products exclusively composed of textile fibres and
products treated in the same way as textile products, for example products containing at least 80 % by weight of textile fibres.
Exclusion: products contracted out to persons working at home, to independent firms or to self-employed tailors.

Fibre names

The description of fibre composition of textile products must use the textile fibres listed in the regulation’s Annex I.

Manufacturers may apply to the European Commission to include a new fibre name in Annex I to the regulation. They must submit a technical file drawn up in line with Annex II which lists minimum requirements.

Indication of the composition

The use of the terms ‘100 %’, ‘pure’ or ‘all’ is limited to textile products composed of a single textile fibre.
The terms ‘virgin wool’ or ‘fleece wool’ (and the terms listed in Annex III) may be used on labels only when the product is composed exclusively of a wool fibre which has not previously been incorporated in a finished product, and which has not been subjected to any spinning.

Products composed of several fibres must be labelled with the name and percentage by weight of all constituent fibres, in descending order.

The presence of non-textile parts of animal origin (for example, a leather strap on a bag made of fabric) in textile products must be indicated by the phrase ‘Contains non-textile parts of animal origin’.

Labelling and marking of textile products

If they are to be sold to the consumer, they must be labelled and marked in a durable, legible, visible and accessible way, to indicate their fibre composition. Labelling or marking is the responsibility of those selling the products.

For products consisting of two or more textile components not having the same fibre composition, each component’s composition must appear.
Labelling must be offered in the official language(s) of the country where the product is sold.
Labelling is not required for products listed in Annex V.

Market surveillance

EU countries’ market surveillance authorities must check the fibre composition of textiles according to the methods in Annex VIII.

Applicatio & Background

It has applied since 8 May 2012.

Textiles and clothing legislation

ACT

Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2011 on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products and repealing Council Directive 73/44/EEC and Directives 96/73/EC and 2008/121/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 272, 18.10.2011, pp. 1–64)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.