SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is reminding stakeholders that Portugal has approved its ‘Leather Decree’, thereby defining the term ‘leather’ and restricting its use in marketing messages and labeling.
Decree Law No. 3/2022 – the Leather Decree – came into effect on January 1, 2022. It creates a harmonized definition of the term ‘leather’ by specifying all characteristics as well as the technical standards that must be followed. Products that do not conform to this definition can no longer use a wide variety of terms, including derivatives and synonyms.
These include:
- Leather – couro
- Skin – pele
- Tanned skin – pele curtida
- Coated leather – couro revestido
Stakeholders should be aware terms such as ‘vegan leather’ and ‘synthetic leather’ are therefore no longer permissible.
Portugal is the latest European country to enact such regulations, following Belgium, France, Spain and Italy. In doing so, they hope to protect consumers and the leather industry from harmful deceptive practices.
SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories, including 10 in China, specializing in testing of apparel, footwear, and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to conduct a comprehensive range of physical, chemical, and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance, and compliance with international, industrial, and regulatory standards worldwide. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services.
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Portugal’s Leather Decree Comes into Force SafeGuardS.
Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.
For further information contact:
Louann Spirito
Consumer and Retail — Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: cp.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 96,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.