SGS : Taiwan Amends Inspection Requirements for Textile Goods

The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) of Taiwan recently released a notification for the amendment of 'Inspection Requirements for Textile Goods Including Babies' Garments and Clothing Accessories, Bedding, Towels, Underwear, Swimwear, Hosiery, Garments and Sweaters'. It shall become effective on February 1, 2021.

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Textile and apparel products that are imported into, manufactured or sold in Taiwan are required to comply with a mandatory inspection regime based on the requirements outlined in CNS 15290. In December 2020, the BSMI updated the inspection standards, CNS 15290 and CNS 15291 to align with their 2019 versions, which aim to enhance the performance of subject textile goods for mandatory inspection to meet consumer needs. The inspection scheme of subject textile goods remain unchanged in new versions.

CNS 15290:2019 - Safety of textile (General requirements):

• Limits the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) to be no more than 1 µg/m2 in goods or coated material; and
• Revises the limits of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO) and nonylphenol (NP) in concentrations to be no higher than 1,000 mg/kg (0.1%) total.

CNS 15291:2019 - Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications:

• Expands the age range from 12 to 14; and
• Revises cords and drawstrings' specification.

Textile products that are in the scope of this amendment are babies' garments and clothing accessories, bedding, towels, underwear, swimwear, hosiery, and garments and sweaters. They are subject to inspection standards of CNS 15290, CNS 15291, Labelling Criteria for Apparel and Garments, and Labelling Criteria for Textiles. The inspection items are free formaldehyde, prohibited azo colourants, cadmium, lead, physical safety requirements, organotin, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO), nonylphenol (NP), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and labelling.

Management system monitoring inspection and random sample inspection will be applied on babies' garments and clothing accessories, bedding, underwear and towels. Only those products that complete the listed inspection procedures can be placed in the domestic market. Random inspection by purchasing samples from the market will be applied on swimwear, hosiery, and garments and sweaters, which is implemented following the inspection plan set up by the BSMI every year.

SGS Global Softlines has an extensive network of over 40 laboratories worldwide, with a strong team of committed professionals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Our internationally accredited state-of-the-art testing laboratories offer a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. We help your company ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Discover more at www.sgs.com/softlines.

For enquiries, please contact:

Louann Spirito
Consumer and Retail - Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
t: [phone]

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