SGS Introduces ISO 14389:2014 New Labeling Requirements for Phthalates in Textile Products

HONG KONG, China - Sept. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- ISO 14389:2014 Uses Correction and Calculation Method to Determine Phthalate Content in Textile Products

EN 15777:2009 was the first European standard to determinate phthalate content in textile products (1). This standard covers a method for determination of phthalates in printed or coated fabric using a correction calculation based on the mass of the print to the mass of the whole sample. Recently, a new standard ISO 14389:2014 was issued and supersedes EN 15777. The new standard uses the correction calculation method whereas a different extraction method is used. Under the new standard, phthalates are extracted using a dissolution technique which aligns with the extraction method in CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3. Table 1 within the latest SafeGuards bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-15514-new-standard-phthalates-textile-iso-143892014-a4-en-14.pdf) summarizes the major difference compared with the superseded harmonized standard EN 15777 and CPSC-CH-C1001-09.3.

Phthalates, esters of ortho-phthalic acid, are a group of organic compounds used as plasticizers to increase softness of plastic, especially PVC. In the clothing industry, they can be found in synthetic leather, buttons, coated fabric, plastisol and dye printing. Due to the toxicological concern caused by phthalates, certain phthalates in toys and childcare articles are regulated in EU and USA (2). In addition to these markets, they also are restricted in some Asian countries such as Korea (3) and Taiwan (4) and emerging countries, such as, Egypt (5) and Turkey (6). Table 2 summarizes the regulation of phthalates in different countries.

References:

(1) SGS Safeguards No. 039/10 – February 2010

(2) SGS Safeguards No. 168/09 – October 2009

(3) SGS Safeguards No. 004/13 – January 2014, SGS-Safeguards No. 092/11 – May 2011, SGS-Safeguards No. 051/10 – March 2010

(4) SGS Safeguards No. 086/11 – May 2011

(5) SGS Safeguards No. 104/13 – June 2013, SGS Safeguards No. 092/12 – June 2012, SGS-Safeguards No. 031/12 – February 2012


(6) SGS Safeguards No. 037/13 – February 2013

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