In 2019, the goal of
the OEKO-TEX Association is again to reinforce consumer protection and
sustainability along the value creation chain for textiles and leather; the
existing guidelines for the OEKO-TEX product portfolio have thus been amended
again for the start of the year. The new regulations have come into effect
after a three-month transition period on 1 April 2019.
An initial overview
of some important changes:
Complies with the new “REACH Annex XVII CMR Legislation”
The substance
benzene and four amine salts have been included in the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX
and LEATHER STANDARD by OEKO-TEX and limit values have been defined. The
substance quinoline, which has been under observation by OEKO-TEX since 2018,
is now also regulated with a limit value.
In the course of
“standardisation” of the limit value requirements, the requirement “<” now
applies for almost all limit values.
For over 25 years,
the OEKO-TEX’s strategy has not been to wait for legislation but to be
proactive in the field of consumer protection as a pioneer. As a result of the
implementation of the above-mentioned updates, the STANDARD 100 and LEATHER
STANDARD already comply with the requirements of the new “REACH Annex XVII CMR
Legislation” (Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1513).
In contrast, this
legislation addressing 33 CMR substances will only be applied for products from
1 November 2020 on. Thus, OEKO-TEX is way ahead and also covers many other
parameters related to consumer protection.
Further new additions to the limit value catalogues
New to the limit
value catalogues are various Substances of Very High Concern: these are the
siloxanes D4, D5 and D6 as well as diazene-1,2-dicarboxamide (ADCA).
Furthermore, a requirement has now been made with regard to the extractable
part of the metals barium and selenium.
In Annex 6 of the
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX, limit values have been made stricter for various parameters.
This relates to the parameters for phthalates (softeners), alkylphenols and
alkylphenol ethoxylates as well for per- and polyfluorinated compounds. The
even more stringent requirements for residues in textile materials will result
in an overall lower impact on the environment, workers and consumers.
Glyphosate under observation
In 2019, two new
product groups will be under observation: glyphosate and its salts as well as
the carcinogenic N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances.
Glyphosate products
in particular, currently the quantitatively most important ingredient in
herbicides, received a lot of media attention during 2017 and 2018 and were the
subject of fierce controversial debates around the world. At the end of 2017,
approval for glyphosate and for further use was only temporarily extended by
the EU to five years – under protest from different consumer groups and
environmentalists. With the “Under observation” action, the OEKO-TEX
Association is now looking more closely at the substance group in relevant
textile materials and is analysing the situation in more detail.
Expanded product portfolio for sustainable production conditions
The STeP assessment
will be extended to leather production facilities in 2019. The name will also
be changed in the course of this integration: “Sustainable Textile Production”
will become “Sustainable Textile and Leather Production” – the product name
STeP remains the same.