As in previous years, OEKO-TEX® released its latest OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 testing standards and limit values for hazardous substances in textiles at its annual meeting. The new standard took effect on January 1, 2013, and officially came into effect on April 1, 2013. Compared to the 2012 version, the main changes are as follows:
1. In the future, eight new tests for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) will be added to the testing of candidate certified textiles, bringing the total to 24. For product category one (infant products), the total content of benzo(a)pyrene and PHAs will be reduced from the original 1.0 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively.
2. In view of the updates to the REACH List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), dimethylformamide (DMF) is added to the list of regulated solvents with a limit of 0.1%.
3. The requirement for phthalates in candidate samples will be expanded to include diamyl phthalate (DPP), increasing the number of items from 11 to 12. The total limit for the 12 items will remain at the previous requirement of 0.1%.
4. In view of the latest revisions to the list of restricted substances in Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation, dimethyl fumarate (DMFu) will be included as an additive in the OEKO-TEX® regulated residual chemical substances list, and the relevant components will be inspected with a limit of 0.1 mg/kg.
5. Adjusted limits for extractable nickel: Adjustments have been made for all four OEKO-TEX® product grades. The new limit for product grade I has been reduced from 1.0 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg, and for product grades II through IV, it has been reduced from 4.0 mg/kg to 1.0 mg/kg.
6. The original individual requirements for octylphenol (OP), nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (OPEO(1-9)s), and nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPEO(1-9)s) are changed to additive requirements, as follows:
– OP + NP = 50 mg/kg (equivalent to 0.005% of the weight of the textile)
– OP+NP+OPEO(1-9)s+NPEO(1-9)s= 500 mg/kg (equivalent to 0.05% of the weight of the textile)
Sources: RICK Technology(2013-01-14)
OEKO-TEX® (2013-01-13)
