SGS Warns Textile and Footwear Manufacturers and Suppliers About 2022 EU Market Surveillance Plans

SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and
certification company, is warning manufacturers of textiles, garments, and
footwear about the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA’s) plans for market
surveillance in 2022.

Following the publishing of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market
surveillance and product compliance in June 2019, the European Union (EU) has
strengthened and modernized its market surveillance procedures for non-food
products. It will be applied from July 16, 2021, except for some provisions,
meaning all products placed on EU markets must be safe and comply with EU
harmonized legislation.

The ECHA announced on July 1, 2020, that in 2022 its inspectors
will be checking products for compliance with restrictions under:

  • REACH – selected hazardous substances
  • POPs Regulations – persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

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The final decision on which substances will be included in the
surveillance will be decided in 2021. Stakeholders should be aware that the
final list of substances may also include phthalates and/or perfluorooctane
sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS).

The enforcement project is expected to be:

  • Prepared – 2021
  • Carried out – 2022
  • Report – 2023

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Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 gives member states additional powers to
ensure products comply with harmonized legislation. Its provisions apply to all
product categories subject to EU harmonization legislation and are not
restricted to apparel, footwear and accessory products. Products that fail to
conform may be subject to withdrawal or recall from the EU market.

Legislation that must be adhered to in the context of apparel,
footwear and accessory products includes:

Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 – Registration, Evaluation,
Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) – Annex XVII to
Regulation (EC) 1907/2006:

  • Entry
    72 for CMR substances in clothing, textiles and
    footwear
  • Entry 51 for phthalates

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the POPs Recast
Regulation

Textile products, footwear and accessories are among the most
frequently reported products by market surveillance authorities, which are then
notified via the RAPEX system. Stakeholders should be aware that, in recent
months, there have been multiple RAPEX notifications for non-conformity in textile
and footwear products with the REACH Regulation. These include:

  • ·
    Neoprene textile products with excessive amount of polycyclic
    aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – PAHs can cause cancer and are also mutagenic and
    toxic for reproduction
  • ·
    Leather components in shoes and gloves with excessive amounts of
    Chromium (VI) – Chromium (VI) is a sensitizer. It can trigger allergic
    reactions and can cause cancer

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In the case of the neoprene textile products, they were withdrawn
from the market and recalled from end users. In the case of the leather
components, they were rejected at the border and withdrawn from EU markets.

SGS Softlines Services

SGS has a worldwide network of over 40
state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in testing of apparel, footwear and
home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary
backgrounds, allowing them to carry out 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.
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
EU
Market Surveillance on Textile and Footwear Products
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: crs.media@sgs.com

Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and
certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality
and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over
2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

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