Oeko-Tex new regulations 2018
In 2018, the Oeko-Tex Association will continue to do everything in its power to provide targeted support for the issues of consumer protection and sustainability along the textile value chain. The adjustments to the existing guidelines of the Oeko-Tex product portfolio have now finally come into force for all certification systems and other services on 1 April 2018 after a three-month transition period.
The updates to the Oeko-Tex standards and guidelines are based on a continuous exchange of experience with stakeholders from industry, cooperation with initiatives and the monitoring of statutory regulations. The work of the Oeko-Tex expert groups thus continuously takes account of scientific innovations and findings as well as current market developments. The most important changes relating to the individual Oeko-Tex products are listed below:
STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex
Textiles made from organic cotton or also with organic cotton content must undergo additional laboratory testing for genetically modified organisms (in English GMO), if the applying company wants to advertise its articles on the STANDARD 100 certificate with corresponding quality designations such as "organic" or "biologic". The laboratory test can be used to prove whether or not genetic engineering was used in the cotton materials used. Organic seals and certificates currently available on the market exclude the use of genetic engineering, but do not require mandatory laboratory tests or only random tests on the cotton seed as proof of this.
The molecular biological laboratory test specially optimized for textiles as part of product certification according to STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex will provide certainty for product suppliers and consumers in the future. An overview of all other new regulations for STANDARD 100 product certification is available at www.oeko-tex.com/std100-neuerungen-2018 retrievable.
ECO PASSPORT by Oeko-Tex
An additional stage has been added to the previously two-stage procedure for awarding an ECO PASSPORT certificate. As of April 1, 2018 ChemicalsIn addition to the tests on the textile, dyes and other auxiliaries used in textile production, Oeko-Tex now not only carries out a comparison with the Oeko-Tex RSL and MRSL (stage 1) and an analytical test for possible impurities (stage 2), but also carries out an on-site inspection at the applicant company to check whether the applicant or producer is actually complying with the information they have provided regarding production conditions. By visiting the company, Oeko-Tex is able to examine both the environmental management system and the measures taken with regard to product responsibility.
The implementation of the three-step ECO PASSPORT certification will be possible from summer 2018. Companies that have their chemicals certified currently have a choice between two certification models - the previous two-stage verification or the new three-stage verification including CAS number comparison, laboratory test and on-site company visit. From 2019, the three-stage process will be mandatory for all ECO PASSPORT by Oeko-Tex certifications. Through the three-stage certification process, the company accepts the ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) the ECO PASSPORT by Oeko-Tex as proof of the conformity of appropriately certified chemicals with level 3 of the ZDHC list of harmful substances for textile production (MRSL).
More information directly at: www.oeko-tex.com
