STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Inspection Standard: New Regulations for 2017
2017-02-10
At the beginning of 2017, OEKO-TEX®As usual, the association released the latest version of STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Test standards and limit value requirements for product certification. The new standards will come into effect for all certified products on April 1, 2017, after a three-month transition period:
Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds
In the per- and polyfluorinated compounds project, more substances have been added under product level *I (products for infants and young children aged 3 years and below). These substances include not only perfluorooctane sulfonate compounds derived from perfluorooctane sulfonate, such as PFOSA, PFOSF, N-Me-FOSA, etc., but also other perfluorinated and polyfluorocarbonic acids, sulfonic acids, and various fluorinated alcohols (fluorotendols) and fluorotelomer acrylates. The standard clearly lists the names of specific substances and stipulates their limit values. For specific substances, please refer to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendices 4 and 5**.
Since then, the use of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds in product level I has been more strictly restricted and almost banned. This move has further strengthened support for the "Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Action" and the "Detoxification (DETOX) Action".
Phthalates
More substances are included in the phthalates program for all product levels. These substances include:
Substance: CAS number:
Diethyl phthalate (DEP) 84-66-2
Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP) 27554-26-3
Di-n-propyl phthalate (DPrP) 131-16-8
Di-n-nonyl phthalate (DNP) 84-76-4
Di(C6-10) alkyl phthalate 68515-51-5
(Decyl, hexyl, octyl) ester complex with 1,2-phthalic acid 68648-93-1
The current sum of limits for product classes I to IV (0.1%=1000mg/kg) remains unchanged. The addition of DEP, DIOP, DPrP and DNP refers to the requirements of ZDHC, and the increase of the complex of di(C6-10) alkyl phthalate and (decyl, hexyl, octyl) ester with 1,2-phthalic acid refers to the requirements of SVHC substances of high concern.
Organotin compounds
In all product grades, three new organotin compounds are added and limit value requirements are specified. The specific substances are dipropyltin (DPT), monophenyltin (MPhT) and tetraethyltin (TeET). For these three substances respectively, the limit values are stipulated as follows: the maximum limit value for product grade I is 1.0 mg/kg, and the maximum limit value for product grade II-IV is 2.0 mg/kg.
This move supports the requirements of ZDHC (MPhT), Detox (TeET) and standard EN 71-3 (DPT).
UV stabilizer
Four UV stabilizers have been regulated for product class IV since 2016, and each substance now also has corresponding limit values in product classes I to III, up to a maximum of 0.1% (i.e. 1000 mg/kg). The four types of UV stabilizers are
Substance: CAS number:
UV 320 3846-71-7
UV 327 3864-99-1
UV 328 25973-55-1
UV 350 36437-37-3
These UV stabilizers have been included in the REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list.
pesticides
Two new substances have been added to the "Pesticide" test item, namely dicofol ethyl ester (CAS No. 510-15-6) and phosphoramide (CAS No. 13171-21-6), and have been listed in STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendix 5 Substance List. The limit value requirements for pesticides remain unchanged, with the total amount of all pesticide substances capped at 0.5 mg/kg for product class I and 1.0 mg/kg for product classes II to IV.
Dicofol and phosphoramides are also mentioned in the EU eco-label "Flower of the EU" for textile products.
LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®
OEKO-TEX®The association released a new standard LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX on January 1, 2017®, since then, the relevant requirements for natural leather materials and natural leather products have been independent from the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX? standard. NEW LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®Certification is specifically for natural leather materials and natural leather products. From a consumer perspective, it helps to achieve a higher level of product safety. For leather product manufacturers, it is able to use products that have been tested for harmful substances at every stage of production, and it can provide consumers with strong proof of product reliability.
Extractable heavy metals
In the "Extractable Heavy Metals" test item, the footnote content of the substance copper has been increased. The exemption in the footnote was expanded from "no specific requirements for excipients made of inorganic materials" to "no specific requirements for excipients and yarns made of inorganic materials, just follow the requirements for bioactive products."
This change makes it clearer: there are no requirements not only for the content of "extractable copper" in metal accessories made of copper and copper alloys, but also for example in specific core-spun yarns (which may contain metallic copper wires wrapped by textile yarns). However, the footnote also clearly states: The use of bioactive products based on copper must comply with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Special provisions regarding biologically active products.
Banned dyes
The use of the blue dye "Navy Blue" (index number 611-070-00-2; EU number 405-665-4) poses a potentially high risk to the environment. Its use is restricted by the European Commission Directive 2003/3/EU effective on January 6, 2003 and Annex XVII of the REACh regulation. Today, it is also certified by the product STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Explicitly prohibited, that is to say, products produced using this dye cannot apply for STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Certification. In STeP by OEKO-TEX®In the framework of factory certification, navy blue has been banned for many years. This move also reflects support for ZDHC’s actions.
Application documents
In order to make the application process for certification easier, OEKO-TEX? has re-edited many application documents. Today, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®and LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®The application forms for initial certification, renewal certification and expanded certification are combined into one set of forms.
Through many of the above new measures, OEKO-TEX®It effectively supports the "Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Action" and the "Detoxification (DETOX) Action", enhances the textile production chain's awareness of the need to responsibly handle potentially harmful substances in textiles, and plays a pioneering role in protecting consumers. About STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®For detailed information on the new regulations, please contact OEKO-TEX®Obtained from TESTEX Swiss Textile Testing Co., Ltd., the official representative agency in China.
Note:
*STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Product level:
OEKO-TEX®Hazardous substance testing is always focused on the actual use of textiles. Products that come into closer contact with the skin need to meet more stringent human ecological requirements. Divided according to four product levels:
Class I: Textiles (clothing, toys, bedding, towels, etc.) for infants and children under 3 years old.
Level II: Direct contact with skin textiles (underwear, T-shirts, bedding, etc.).
Level III: Textiles not in direct contact with skin (jackets, coats, etc.).
Level IV: Decorative materials (carpets, mattresses, etc.).
**STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendices 4 and 5:
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®In the standard document, the inspection items and their limit values and the list of specific hazardous substances included in the inspection items are compiled in the appendix, among which STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendix 4 is a list of limit values for each product level corresponding to each inspection item, and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendix 5 lists the specific hazardous substances included in some inspection items, which is a supplementary explanation to Appendix 4.
Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds
In the per- and polyfluorinated compounds project, more substances have been added under product level *I (products for infants and young children aged 3 years and below). These substances include not only perfluorooctane sulfonate compounds derived from perfluorooctane sulfonate, such as PFOSA, PFOSF, N-Me-FOSA, etc., but also other perfluorinated and polyfluorocarbonic acids, sulfonic acids, and various fluorinated alcohols (fluorotendols) and fluorotelomer acrylates. The standard clearly lists the names of specific substances and stipulates their limit values. For specific substances, please refer to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendices 4 and 5**.
Since then, the use of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds in product level I has been more strictly restricted and almost banned. This move has further strengthened support for the "Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Action" and the "Detoxification (DETOX) Action".
Phthalates
More substances are included in the phthalates program for all product levels. These substances include:
Substance: CAS number:
Diethyl phthalate (DEP) 84-66-2
Diisooctyl phthalate (DIOP) 27554-26-3
Di-n-propyl phthalate (DPrP) 131-16-8
Di-n-nonyl phthalate (DNP) 84-76-4
Di(C6-10) alkyl phthalate 68515-51-5
(Decyl, hexyl, octyl) ester complex with 1,2-phthalic acid 68648-93-1
The current sum of limits for product classes I to IV (0.1%=1000mg/kg) remains unchanged. The addition of DEP, DIOP, DPrP and DNP refers to the requirements of ZDHC, and the increase of the complex of di(C6-10) alkyl phthalate and (decyl, hexyl, octyl) ester with 1,2-phthalic acid refers to the requirements of SVHC substances of high concern.
Organotin compounds
In all product grades, three new organotin compounds are added and limit value requirements are specified. The specific substances are dipropyltin (DPT), monophenyltin (MPhT) and tetraethyltin (TeET). For these three substances respectively, the limit values are stipulated as follows: the maximum limit value for product grade I is 1.0 mg/kg, and the maximum limit value for product grade II-IV is 2.0 mg/kg.
This move supports the requirements of ZDHC (MPhT), Detox (TeET) and standard EN 71-3 (DPT).
UV stabilizer
Four UV stabilizers have been regulated for product class IV since 2016, and each substance now also has corresponding limit values in product classes I to III, up to a maximum of 0.1% (i.e. 1000 mg/kg). The four types of UV stabilizers are
Substance: CAS number:
UV 320 3846-71-7
UV 327 3864-99-1
UV 328 25973-55-1
UV 350 36437-37-3
These UV stabilizers have been included in the REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list.
pesticides
Two new substances have been added to the "Pesticide" test item, namely dicofol ethyl ester (CAS No. 510-15-6) and phosphoramide (CAS No. 13171-21-6), and have been listed in STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendix 5 Substance List. The limit value requirements for pesticides remain unchanged, with the total amount of all pesticide substances capped at 0.5 mg/kg for product class I and 1.0 mg/kg for product classes II to IV.
Dicofol and phosphoramides are also mentioned in the EU eco-label "Flower of the EU" for textile products.
LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®
OEKO-TEX®The association released a new standard LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX on January 1, 2017®, since then, the relevant requirements for natural leather materials and natural leather products have been independent from the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX? standard. NEW LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®Certification is specifically for natural leather materials and natural leather products. From a consumer perspective, it helps to achieve a higher level of product safety. For leather product manufacturers, it is able to use products that have been tested for harmful substances at every stage of production, and it can provide consumers with strong proof of product reliability.
Extractable heavy metals
In the "Extractable Heavy Metals" test item, the footnote content of the substance copper has been increased. The exemption in the footnote was expanded from "no specific requirements for excipients made of inorganic materials" to "no specific requirements for excipients and yarns made of inorganic materials, just follow the requirements for bioactive products."
This change makes it clearer: there are no requirements not only for the content of "extractable copper" in metal accessories made of copper and copper alloys, but also for example in specific core-spun yarns (which may contain metallic copper wires wrapped by textile yarns). However, the footnote also clearly states: The use of bioactive products based on copper must comply with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Special provisions regarding biologically active products.
Banned dyes
The use of the blue dye "Navy Blue" (index number 611-070-00-2; EU number 405-665-4) poses a potentially high risk to the environment. Its use is restricted by the European Commission Directive 2003/3/EU effective on January 6, 2003 and Annex XVII of the REACh regulation. Today, it is also certified by the product STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Explicitly prohibited, that is to say, products produced using this dye cannot apply for STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Certification. In STeP by OEKO-TEX®In the framework of factory certification, navy blue has been banned for many years. This move also reflects support for ZDHC’s actions.
Application documents
In order to make the application process for certification easier, OEKO-TEX? has re-edited many application documents. Today, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®and LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX®The application forms for initial certification, renewal certification and expanded certification are combined into one set of forms.
Through many of the above new measures, OEKO-TEX®It effectively supports the "Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Action" and the "Detoxification (DETOX) Action", enhances the textile production chain's awareness of the need to responsibly handle potentially harmful substances in textiles, and plays a pioneering role in protecting consumers. About STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®For detailed information on the new regulations, please contact OEKO-TEX®Obtained from TESTEX Swiss Textile Testing Co., Ltd., the official representative agency in China.
Note:
*STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Product level:
OEKO-TEX®Hazardous substance testing is always focused on the actual use of textiles. Products that come into closer contact with the skin need to meet more stringent human ecological requirements. Divided according to four product levels:
Class I: Textiles (clothing, toys, bedding, towels, etc.) for infants and children under 3 years old.
Level II: Direct contact with skin textiles (underwear, T-shirts, bedding, etc.).
Level III: Textiles not in direct contact with skin (jackets, coats, etc.).
Level IV: Decorative materials (carpets, mattresses, etc.).
**STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendices 4 and 5:
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®In the standard document, the inspection items and their limit values and the list of specific hazardous substances included in the inspection items are compiled in the appendix, among which STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendix 4 is a list of limit values for each product level corresponding to each inspection item, and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Appendix 5 lists the specific hazardous substances included in some inspection items, which is a supplementary explanation to Appendix 4.
(Source: Textile Herald)
