1. Textile products in the EU
Product safety training for buyers and sourcing professionals Shanghai and Guangzhou
and
Paolo Lavaggi

2. Product categories notified in 2016 the EU wide rapid alert system on dangerous non-food products (RAPEX)
Most problems found: injuries and chemical

4. Cords and drawstrings in children’s clothing
Risk for younger children- ex entrapment of cord in a slide at the playground- risk of strangulation
Risk for older children – ex string at waist gets caught in a bus
Applicable standard - EN 14682:2014
When products conform with the requirements of this standard, they are presumed safe as far as the risks or risk categories covered by the standard are concerned

5. Head, neck, upper chest area- children clothes for age below 7 years
No drawstrings in head, neck or upper chest area
No decorative cords anywhere on the hood or at the back of the neck
Non-compliance:

6. Head, neck, upper chest area- children clothes for age below 7 years
In other parts of neck and upper chest areas, decorative cords shall have free ends no longer than 7,5 cm and no knots, toggles or three dimensional embellishments and not be positioned so they can tie across the throat.
Non-compliance:
Adjusting tabs are permissible provided that the length is no more than 7,5 cm, and shall have no button, toggle, buckle on the free end which may present an entrapment hazard

7. Head, neck, upper chest area- children clothes for age below 7 years
Shoulder straps shall be constructed such that, when worn, there shall be no free ends external to the garment. Strap adjustments are permitted when free ends are inside the garment. Decorative cords attached to shoulder straps shall have no free ends longer than 7,5 cm and fixed loops shall be no longer than 7,5 cm in circumference.
Non - compliance:
No halter neck style garments with free ends in the neck and throat
Non-compliance:

8. Head, neck, upper chest area- children clothes for age between 7-14 years
Drawstrings shall not have free ends.
Non-compliance:
Functional and decorative cords no longer than 7,5 cm.
Adjusting tabs are permissible if cord is no longer than 7,5 cm and have no button, toggle or buckle on the free end (represent an entrapment hazard)

9. Head, neck, upper chest area- children clothes for age between 7-14 years
Free ends of shoulder straps no longer than 14 cm.
No halter neck style garments with free ends in the neck and throat.
Non-compliance:

10. Back area/1 For both age groups:
No drawstrings or functional cords that emerge from the back of the garment or to be tied at the back.
Decorative cords and adjusting tabs <7,5cm. No knot, toggle or buckle on the free end which can present an entrapment hazard.
Tied belts or sashes are permissible (requirements on next slide)
Non compliance:

11. Back area/2
Until 7 years
Tied belts and sashes (textile material > 3 cm) intended to be tied at the back of the garment shall be no longer than 36 cm and untied do not hang below the hem.
Non-compliance:
Between 7-14 years
Tied belts and sashes (textile material > 3 cm) intended to be tied at the back of the garment shall be no longer than 36 cm.

12. Waist area(for both age groups)
Garments worn from waist down without shoulder straps, braces, or sleeves, such as trousers, shorts, skirts, briefs, bikini bottoms, shall not have:
a) Free ends of drawstrings longer than 20 cm at each end when the garment is in a relaxed natural state,
b) Protruding loops on drawstrings with no free ends, when the garment is open to its largest and laid flat,
c) Functional cords longer than 20 cm,
d) Decorative cords longer than 14 cm including any embellishment.
Non-compliance:

13. Lower edge of garments which hang below the crotch (for both age groups)
Drawstrings, functional cords or decorative cords (including any toggle) shall not hang below the lower edge of the garment.
Non-compliance
In garments that are designed to finish at the ankle, such as trousers, skirts and coats, the drawstrings, functional cords and decorative cords at the lower edge shall not be outside the garment.

14. Sleeves (for both age groups)
Drawstrings, functional cords or decorative cords at the lower edge of long sleeves shall not be outside the garment when the garment is fastened.
Adjusting tabs, no longer than 10 cm, are permissible on sleeves and when ‘open’ not hanging below the edge of the sleeve.
Non-compliance:

15. Chemicals
General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC )- all non- food consumer products need to be safe
The EU REACH Regulation: Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals and CLP (Classification, labelling and packaging – Regulation (EC) No1272/2008) are the two main EU legislation on chemicals
Specific chemical restrictions of hazardous substances are set by REACH in textiles
Further restrictions could be established in the future under REACH if considered necessary following risk assessment

16. Hazardous chemicals often notified - RAPEX
Chromium VI in leather articles – allergic reaction, long term carcinogenic
REACH limit value : 3mg/kg chromium VI in a leather containing consumer product

17. Hazardous chemicals often notified - RAPEX
Azo-dyes releasing aromatic amines- When the product is in direct and prolonged contact with the skin, this aromatic amine may be absorbed by the skin. Aromatic amines can cause cancer, cell mutations and affect reproduction.
REACH: azo-dyes should not release more than 30mg/kg aromatic amines listed in REACH + 1 type of azo-dye not allowed

18. Hazardous chemicals often notified - RAPEX
Dimethylfumarate (DMF)- a substance which is strongly sensitising in contact with the skin.
REACH: Limit value for DMF in consumer products: 0,1 mg/kg

19. Additional information
Textile Regulation – Regulation (EU) No 1007/2001- labelling of textile names EN 14682:2014