Ecuador to amend labelling requirements for garments

The Ministry of Industry and Productivity (MIPRO) of Ecuador has revised the regulations regarding labelling of garments to be exported to Ecuador. The Mandatory First Review Technical Regulation Ecuadorian RTE INEN 013 "Labelling of Clothing, Household Linen and Clothing" is being adopted and formalised, and will replace the previous version of RTE INEN 013:2006.

Apparel labelling inspection programme: A certificate of conformity/inspection is required in order to demonstrate compliance to the Ecuadorian technical regulations. The inspection and conformity assessment must be performed by a certification body accredited by the Ecuadorian Accreditation Organization (OAE) and must be performed on the products destined for Ecuador only.

General labelling requirements: The information presented on labels must be expressed in Spanish (other languages without prejudice also can be used). The required information must be on a permanently attached label and must be visible, indelible and easily accessible to the consumer. The information may be placed on one or more permanent labels.

Labelling requirements for household linen, clothing and garments: The information required for technical labelling must be consistent with the provisions of NTE INEN 1875 – "Textile. Clothing. Requirements", including the below minimum information:

• Size code for garments and clothing accessories,
• Dimensions for household linen,
• Percentage of textile fibres and/or leather used,
• Trade name and tax identification number (RUC) of the manufacturer or importer,
• Country of origin,
• Care and maintenance instructions.

For further information:

SGS, Consumer Testing Services, Kris Wan, Senior Manager, Global Softlines Development Office, SGS Hong Kong