SGS Publishes SafeGuardS Covering China’s New Standard for Children’s Leather Sandals

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is advising stakeholders that China has published a new standard for children’s leather sandals – QB/T 4546-2021.

Issued on December 2, 2021, by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology the new product standard came into effect on April 1, 2022, replacing the 2012 iteration. It applies to the production, inspection and sale of sandals for children and infants, where the uppers are mainly made of natural leather, artificial materials, or textile materials by various processes. Manufacturers can also refer to this standard is the upper strap (upper) is made from another material.

Stakeholders should be aware the new standard applies to sandals for general use and is not applicable to sandals for infants and children that have special functions.

The new standard has revisions to:

  • Scope
  • Normative references
  • Definitions of ‘infants’ leather sandals’ and ‘children’s leather sandals’
  • ‘General requirements’
  • ‘Appearance quality’ requirements
  • ‘Flexing resistance of whole shoe’ and ‘peeling strength of upper-sole’ requirements
  • ‘Abrasion resistance of outsole’ and ‘hardness of outsole’ requirements and test methods
  • ‘Upper strap pull-out strength (or upper strap pull-out force)’ requirements, and ‘upper strap pull-out force’ test method
  • ‘Shanks for footwear’ requirements
  • Judgment rules
  • Requirement of ‘packaging, transportation, storage’

Additions to:

  • Requirements and test methods for ‘discoloration’
  • Requirements and test methods for ‘outsole and midsole adhesive strength’
  • Annex A of ‘after-sale quality judgment for children’s leather sandals’

Finally, there are deletions to:

  • Requirement and test method for ‘odor’ and ‘total thickness of upper strap’
  • Requirement and test method for ‘limited substances’ and ‘physical safety performance’
  • ‘Inspection classification’, ‘factory inspection’, ‘type inspection’, ‘inspection items’
  • Annex A of ‘examples of classification of accessories
  • Annex B of ‘tensile strength test of small parts’

Stakeholders looking for an overview of the main technical requirements in QB/T 4546-2021 should review SGS’s original SafeGuardS 065/22, which includes a table containing the main test methods and requirements.

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 China Updates Footwear Product Standard for Children’s leather sandals – QB/T 4546-2021 SafeGuardS.

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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.

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