EU Publishes New Restrictions on CMR Substances in Clothing, Textiles and Footwear

November 30, 2018
Top Quote Regulation (EU) 2018/1513 has been published, amending the REACH Annex XVII restricted substances list and limiting certain CMR substances in clothing, textiles and footwear. End Quote
  • (1888PressRelease) November 30, 2018 - The European Commission (EC) has amended Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Annex XVII, the restricted substances list, to limit certain carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) substances, category 1A or 1B. The restrictions cover 33 CMR substances in textiles, clothing, associated accessories, and footwear.

    The 33 CMR and their maximum concentration limits are:
    • Extractable Heavy Metals – 1 mg/kg (expressed as each metal)
    o Cadmium and its compounds
    o Chromium VI
    o Arsenic
    o Lead and its compounds
    • Solvents / VOCs – 5mg/kg
    o Benzene
    • PAHs – 1 mg/kg (each)
    o Benz[a]anthracene
    o Benz[e]acephenanthrylene
    o Benzo[a]pyrene
    o Benzo[e]pyrene
    o Benzo[j]fluoranthene
    o Benzo[k]fluoranthene
    o Chrysene
    o Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
    • Chlorotoluenes – 1 mg/kg (each)
    o α,α,α,4-tetrachlorotoluene
    o α,α,α-trichlorotoluene
    o α-chlorotoluene
    • Formaldehyde – 75 mg/kg
    • Phthalates – 1000 mg/kg (each)
    o 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid; di-C 6-8-branched alkylesters, C 7-rich (DIHP)
    o Bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate (DMEP)
    o Diisopentylphthalate (DiPP)
    o Di-n-pentyl phthalate (DPP)
    o Di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP)
    • Solvents / VOCs – 3000 mg/kg (each)
    o N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)
    o N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC)
    o N,N-dimethylformamide; dimethyl formamide (DMF)
    • Dyestuff – 50 mg/kg (each)
    o C.I. Disperse Blue 1
    o C.I. Basic Red 9
    o C.I. Basic Violet 3 with ≥ 0,1 % of Michler's ketone
    • Others
    o 4-chloro-o-toluidinium chloride – 30 mg/kg
    o 2-Naphthylammoniumacetate – 30 mg/kg
    o 4-methoxy-m-phenylene diammonium sulphate; 2,4-diaminoanisole sulphate – 30 mg/kg
    o 2,4,5-trimethylaniline hydrochloride – 30 mg/kg
    o Quinoline – 50 mg/kg

    The presence of CMR in clothing and related articles means consumers can easily become exposed to them, either through inhalation or contact with the skin. The EC has therefore determined that to protect human health, these substances must be kept below the maximum concentration limits listed above.

    The range of products covered includes:
    • Clothing or related accessories
    • Textiles other than clothing which, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, come into contact with human skin to an extent similar to clothing – e.g. bed linen
    • Footwear

    The restrictions do not apply to:
    • Clothing, related accessories or footwear, or parts of clothing, related accessories or footwear, made exclusively of natural leather, fur or hide
    • Non-textile fasteners and non-textile decorative attachments
    • Second-hand clothing, related accessories, textiles other than clothing or footwear
    • Wall-to-wall carpets and textile floor coverings for indoor use, rugs and runners
    • Personal protective equipment (PPE) within the scope of Regulation (EU) 1016/425
    • Medical devices within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/745
    • Disposable textile (designed to be used only once or for a limited time and are not intended for subsequent use for the same or a similar purpose)

    The new limits will come into effect on November 1, 2020. The exception is the placing onto the market formaldehyde in jackets, coats or upholstery, which must comply with a limit of 300mg/kg between November 1, 2020, and November 1, 2023, and then comply with the limit of 75mg/kg after this date, as specified in Appendix 12.

    SGS Softlines Services
    SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in softline testing. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services. [www.sgs.com/softlines]

    SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Revision of ASTM F2413-18 Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2018/11/safeguards-14718-standard-specification-for-performance-requirements-for-protective-footwear]

    Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.

    For further information contact:

    Louann Spirito
    Consumer and Retail — Softlines
    US & Canada Softlines Business Head
    Tel: +1 973 461 7919
    Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
    Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

    About SGS
    SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.

    ###
space
space
  • FB Icon Twitter Icon In-Icon
Contact Information
Over Satisfied Users & Approved Press Releases
© Copyright 2005-2024, 1888 Press Release. All Rights Reserved