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Global labelling handbook for apparel, footwear and accessoriesAn overview of the key global labelling requirements.

Global Labelling Handbook for Apparel, Footwear and Accessories | TÜV SÜD 2

Contents

01 Introduction.........................................................................................................3 Why is labelling such a challenge for the fashion industry?......................3 Labelling handbook layout................................................................................3

02 Global Labelling Requirements for Apparel, Footwear and Accessories..............................................................................5

Apparel.................................................................................................................5 Textile Apparel.............................................................................................5 Leather Apparel.........................................................................................28 Footwear............................................................................................................42 Accessories.......................................................................................................54

03 TÜV SÜD Labelling Services.........................................................................70

04 TÜV SÜD Global Softlines Network.............................................................71

TÜV SÜD | Global Labelling Handbook for Apparel, Footwear and Accessories 3

A product that complies with all necessary market requirements would be ideal for a global product launch, ensuring maximum cost savings. However, while this can be achieved with regulatory requirements that govern restricted chemical substances, the same cannot be said of the labelling requirements for the fashion industry. Navigating the fashion industry’s diverse labelling requirements which entail differing symbols, statements, and language requirements, is not a straightforward exercise.

Language requirements - The main objective of a label is to convey all necessary information to the customer, requiring information on labels to be written in the language of the respective local markets.

Symbols/Statements - Different symbols and statements are utilised across countries and regions. For example, while there is no harmonised mandatory requirement at the level of the European Union (EU), there are legal requirements in several EU-member states which mandate that care instructions be in accordance with the GINETEX system as described in the standard ISO 3758. On the other hand, care instructions for the USA can be provided either in words or symbols, and such symbols must follow the ASTM system approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Besides the language requirements and symbols and statements mentioned above, other mandatory information such as fibre content and country of origin, all add to the complexity of product labelling.

Product labelling is serious business. Incorrect, incomplete or misleading labels can result in products being rejected at borders, or costly recalls that inevitably damage a brand‘s image. This handbook on labelling requirements is designed to help you take the guesswork out of labelling requirements, by giving you comprehensive summaries of specific national requirements.

Layout of the labelling handbook

This handbook covers the categories of apparel, footwear, fashion jewellery and accessories (this includes belts, leather gloves, handbags, etc.) It serves as a quick reference for mandatory, as well as recommended requirements for the labelling of the product categories. The information contained within this handbook is based on the regulations of the countries covered, the 2010 Textile and Clothing Labelling information provided by the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX), as well as the information available on the website: www.textile-labels.eu.

The global labelling requirements are listed in Section 2, which is divided into three major categories - apparel, footwear, and accessories. However, this handbook does not apply to products with electrical or battery operated functions. Apparel is further divided into two sections - textiles and genuine leather. Information on the country of origin, fibre composition, care instruction, and names of importers or manufacturers, etc, are presented in a table format.

The terms used in this handbook are defined as follows:

Mandatory = Legal requirementOptional = Information that can be included but not a legal requirementIndustry Practice = Information that is commonly provided by the fashion industry but not a legal requirement

Given that accessories represent a wide range of products covering fashion jewelleries, gloves, belts, handbags, etc, the labelling requirements presented are product specific, and only the mandatory labelling requirements are mentioned.

01 IntroductionWhy is labelling such a challenge for the fashion industry?

02Global Labelling Requirements

Textile Apparel Leather Apparel Footwear Accessories

04TÜV SÜD Global Softlines Network

01Introduction

03TÜV SÜD Labelling Services


Research and guidelines are also available for countries not covered in this guidebook. For more information, please contact us directly.




01Introduction


AustraliaAustriaBelgium

BrazilBulgariaCanadaChina

CroatiaCyprus

Czech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFrance

GermanyGreece

HungaryIceland

IndiaIreland

ItalyJapanLatvia

LiechtensteinLithuania

LuxembourgMalaysia

MaltaMexico

NetherlandsNorwayPoland

PortugalRomaniaRussia

Saudi ArabiaSingaporeSlovakiaSlovenia

SpainSweden

SwitzerlandTaiwanTurkey

United Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of

America

01 IntroductionCountries / Regions covered in the labelling handbook

Tailor your textile apparel to diverse global specifications with TÜV SÜDLabelling requirements for textile apparel range from general information such as apparel dimensions, to highly technical information, such as fibre composition. The five main categories of labelling information for target countries include country of origin, fibre composition, manufacturer and/or importer information, care instruction and size. TÜV SÜD can help you ensure that your products meet the diverse labelling requirements across local markets through labelling review and product label verification services.



COUNTRY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

FIBRE COMPOSITION

MANUFACTURER / IMPORTER

INFORMATION

SIZE CARE INSTRUCTIONS

OTHER REQUIREMENTS MANDATORY LANGUAGE(S)

STANDARD / REFERENCES

Australia Mandatory Industry Practice,

but Mandatory in New South

Wales

Industry Practice

Industry Practice,

but Mandatory for children’s

nightwear

Mandatory Fire hazard labelling for children’s nightwear based on AS/NZS 1249:2003, children’s nightwear should be labelled with the following: Name of the

manufacturer or supplier or brand

Size of the garment

Care instruction suitable for the preservation of a fire retardant treatment

Information about the risk of ignition (before this product must be properly tested according to AS 2755.2)

English Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905/Commerce (Imports) Regulations 1940/Trade Practices Act

New South Wales Fair Trading Regulation 2012

AS/NZS 2392:1999 - Textiles - Labelling of clothing, household textiles and furnishings

AS/NZS 2450:1994, Textiles - Natural and man-made fibres - Generic names

AS/NZS 2622:1996, Textile products - Fibre content labelling

Trade Practices Act 1974 - Consumer Protection Notice No. 25 of 2010

AS/NZS 1957:1998 Textiles - Care labelling

Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standards) (Children’s Nightwear and Paper Patterns for Children’s Nightwear) Regulations 2007

AS/NZS 1249:2003 Children’s nightwear and limited daywear having reduced fire hazard




01Introduction


02 Global Labelling RequirementsTextile Apparel


COUNTRY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

FIBRE COMPOSITION

MANUFACTURER / IMPORTER

INFORMATION

SIZE CARE INSTRUCTIONS

OTHER REQUIREMENTS MANDATORY LANGUAGE(S)

STANDARD / REFERENCES

Austria Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory - Name and address of

manufacturers and importers

Industry Practice

Mandatory Formaldehyde in textile products which contain 1500 ppm or more of free formaldehyde must be marked with warning label “Enthält Formaldehyd. Es wird empfohlen, das Kleidungsstück zur besseren Hautverträglichkeit vor dem ersten Tragen zu waschen.”

As per Federal Law against Unfair Competition 1984 Packaging of product must be labelled legibly and at a visible place with following information.a) The name (company)

and of the head office of the producer or trader,

b) The quantity (weight, measure, number)

c) The nature (including the essential information for use)

d) Those essential for the proper use and maintenance of information and

e) Origin

German Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011

Directive 2001/95/EC Federal Law against Unfair

Competition 1984 Textile care labelling

regulation [Federal Gazette# BGBl. No. 337/1975 and subsequent amendment by BGBl. Nr. 159/1979; BGBl. Nr. 242/1984; BGBl. Nr. 577/1988; BGBl. II Nr. 294/2006; BGBl. II Nr. 337/2009]

EN ISO 3758 Textiles - Care labelling code using symbols

Federal Law Gazette No. 194/1990




01Introduction


02 Global Labelling RequirementsTextile Apparel

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Global labelling handbook for apparel, footwear and ... · PDF fileTÜV SÜD | Global Labelling Handbook for Apparel, Footwear and Accessories 3 A product that complies with all necessary