Textile products: textile fibre names and labelling

SUMMARY OF:

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

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS REGULATION DO?

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.

WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 8 May 2012.

BACKGROUND

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.

last update 30.11.2015