Textiles Labeling Requirements in the United States

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Textile Labeling Requirements in the United States

Products containing textile fibers, fur, and wool, that are imported or manufactured in the United States, are covered by the labeling rules and requirements outlined in 16 CFR Parts 303, 301, and 300.

Additionally, care labeling might be required for some products (e.g. wearing apparel), according to 16 CFR Part 423. Other regulations such as CPSIA or the Flammable Fabric Act also sets labeling requirements for textiles products based on the age group or fabric characteristics.

In this guide, we explain what products are covered by the relevant regulations, and what are the labeling requirements. Note that, while some of these regulations might also contain documentation, testing, and other requirements, in this article we focus on the labeling requirements.

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Möbius Loop Guide for the US, EU and UK

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Möbius Loop Symbol

The Möbius loop is a widely recognized symbol that generally indicate packaging recyclability. The requirements for using the Möbius loop symbol differ depending on whether you sell in the EU, US, or UK.

For example, some regulations – such as 16 CFR Part 260 in the US – set requirements and guidance on how to use the Möbius loop symbol. For instance, importers and manufacturers might need to provide proof of their packaging’s recyclability or qualify their recyclability claims.

In short, you should not use the Möbius loop symbol unless you have something to support it. Even then, the requirements are not always crystal clear.

In this guide, we explain the meaning of the Möbius loop symbol, and how guidance regarding its usage varies across the EU, the US, and the UK.

Note that we always refer to “packaging” because, in the official documents we could find, the provided examples usually concern packaging products (e.g. cardboard boxes or food containers).

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UN 38.3 Requirements for Lithium Batteries: A Practical Guide

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UN 38.3 guide

If you are planning to ship lithium batteries in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, or Canada, you should be aware that there are restrictions, due to the fact that lithium batteries might be dangerous. For example, they might explode or catch fire.

In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers should know about UN 38.3 compliance requirements in practice. Note that other markets might regulate lithium batteries as well.
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Textiles Labelling Requirements in the United Kingdom

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Textile Labelling Requirements in the United Kingdom

The Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations set labelling requirements for textile products in the United Kingdom. The Regulations refer to the European Union Regulation (EU) 1007/2011, which requires the provision of fibre composition information for textile products.

In this guide, we explain covered and exempted products, fibre composition requirements (e.g. 100% Polyester), and information concerning care and size labelling.

The second part of this article consists of frequently answered questions related to UK textiles labelling requirements.

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Textiles Labelling Requirements in European Union

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textiles labelling requirements in the European Union

Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 establishes labelling and naming requirements for textile fibre products. It mandates importers and manufacturers to specify their textile products’ fibre composition (e.g. 100% cotton), and if the product contain non-textile parts of animal origin.

In this guide, we list covered and exempted products, and explain the fibre composition requirements. We also provide an FAQ, in the second part of the article.
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Reese’s Law – Guide to Button Cell Battery Safety Requirements

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Reese's Law
Reese’s Law, enacted in honor of a toddler who lost her life due to the ingestion of a button cell battery, intends to protect users from similar tragedies. It mandates the establishment of a safety standard, which in turn sets requirements for button cell and coin batteries, and products that might contain such batteries.

This guide explains the background and purpose of Reese’s Law. It also covers 16 CFR Part 1263, the safety standard proposed by the CPSC as a result of the law. This guide also covers the standard’s product scope, as well as requirements regarding performance, labeling, testing, and certification.
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STURDY Act – Safety Requirements for Clothing Storage Units

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STURDY Act
The STURDY Act mandates the CPSC to establish a mandatory safety standard protecting young children from potential injury or death resulting from clothing or storage units tipping over. The act also requires the standard to contain stability tests and product warning label requirements.

In this guide, we explain when and why the STURDY Act was signed into law, and its requirements concerning testing and warnings. We also cover the ASTM F2057 requirements, which was adopted as mandatory safety standard by the CPSC, as a result of the STURDY Act.
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation: An Essential Guide

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The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation aims to ensure that PPE sold in the EU is safe to use and protects users from foreseeable risks. The regulation covers equipment that is designed to protect users from different risks (e.g. electric shocks or falls from heights) and in different environments (e.g. workplace or outdoor sports).

The regulation covers products ranging form sunglasses and bicycle helmets to work gloves and protective footwear.

This guide explains what importers and manufacturers must know about the PPE requirements such as harmonised standards, conformity assessments, documentation, and labelling.
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Phthalate Regulations in the United States: An Overview

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Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to improve certain material characteristics in plastics. However, phthalates may cause infertility, obesity, and cancer. It’s therefore not surprising that these substances are subject to increasingly strict regulations – especially when it comes to infant and children’s products.

That said, phthalates regulations also cover food packaging, kitchen utensils, and other products. Keep reading, and learn what importers and manufacturers must know about US phthalates restrictions and lab testing.
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Phthalate Regulations in the European Union: An Overview

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Phthalates are chemicals used to improve the flexibility and durability of certain plastics. Some of them have been linked to certain cancers, metabolic disorders, and male infertility. As a result, the European Union strictly regulates the usage of phthalates in consumer products.

Still, consumer products, including toys, PVC plastic products, and food packaging, might contain restricted phthalates as these are not restricted or banned in all countries. In this guide, we explain what importers and manufacturers must know about phthalate restrictions in the European Union.
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